And what a clever, well-read individual! With him and the Public Prosecutor and the President of the Local Council I played whist until the cocks uttered their last morning crow.

He is a most excellent fellow." "And what of his wife ?" queried Madame Manilov.

"Is she not a most gracious personality ?" "One of the best among my limited acquaintance," agreed Chichikov.
Nor were the President of the Local Council and the Postmaster overlooked; until the company had run through the whole list of urban officials.

And in every case those officials appeared to be persons of the highest possible merit.
"Do you devote your time entirely to your estate ?" asked Chichikov, in his turn.
"Well, most of it," replied Manilov; "though also we pay occasional visits to the town, in order that we may mingle with a little well-bred society.

One grows a trifle rusty if one lives for ever in retirement." "Quite so," agreed Chichikov.
"Yes, quite so," capped Manilov.