that no one was disposed to begin the conversation. 'We had a very pleasant evening.'
'Yes, I wasn't at the president's that day,' answered Sobakevitch.
'He is a splendid man!'
'Who's that?' asked Sobakevitch, staring at the corner of the stove.
'The president.'
'Well, perhaps he seems so to you. Although he is a freemason, he is the greatest fool on earth.'
Tchitchikov was a little disconcerted by this rather harsh description, but recovering himself he went on: 'Of course every man has his weaknesses, but the governor now, what a delightful man!'
'The governor a delightful man?'
'Yes, isn't he?'
'He is the greatest ruffian on earth!'
'What, the governor a ruffian!' said Tchitchikov, and was utterly at a loss to understand how the governor could be a ruffian. 'I must own I should never have thought so,' he continued. 'Allow me to observe, however, that his behaviour is not at all suggestive of it: on the contrary, in fact, there is a great deal of softness in him.' At this juncture he referred in support of his words to the purses embroidered by the governor's own hands; and alluded appreciatively to the amiable expression of his face.
'He has the face of a ruffian!' said Sobakevitch. 'If you put a knife in his hand and let him loose on the public highway he would cut your throat
