Chapter 2

           Tientietnikov’sgoodhorsescoveredthetenverststotheGeneral’shouseinalittleoverhalfanhour.Descendingfromthekoliaskawithfeaturesattunedtodeference,Chichikovinquiredforthemasterofthehouse,andwasatonceusheredintohispresence.Bowingwithheadheldrespectfullyononesideandhandsextendedlikethoseofawaitercarryingatrayfulofteacups,thevisitorinclinedhiswholebodyforward,andsaid:

           “IhavedeemeditmydutytopresentmyselftoyourExcellency.IhavedeemeditmydutybecauseinmyheartIcherishamostprofoundrespectforthevaliantmenwho,onthefieldofbattle,haveprovedthesavioursoftheircountry.”

           ThatthispreliminaryattackdidnotwhollydispleasetheGeneralwasprovedbythefactthat,respondingwithagraciousinclinationofthehead,hereplied:

           “Iamgladtomakeyouracquaintance.Praybesogoodastotakeaseat.Inwhatcapacityorcapacitieshaveyouyourselfseenservice?”

           “Ofmyservice,”saidChichikov,depositinghisform,notexactlyinthecentreofthechair,butratherononesideofit,andrestingahandupononeofitsarms,“—ofmyservicethescenewaslaid,inthefirstinstance,intheTreasury;whileitsfurthercourseboremesuccessivelyintotheemployofthePublicBuildingsCommission,oftheCustomsBoard,andofotherGovernmentOffices.But,throughout,mylifehasresembledabarquetossedonthecrestsofperfidiousbillows.