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＇3＇ A German dramatist （1761…1819） who also filled sundry posts in the service of the Russian Government。
The following day he devoted to paying calls upon the various municipal officialsa first； and a very respectful； visit being paid to the Governor。 This personage turned out to resemble Chichikov himself in that he was neither fat nor thin。 Also； he wore the riband of the order of Saint Anna about his neck； and was reported to have been recommended also for the star。 For the rest； he was large and good…natured； and had a habit of amusing himself with occasional spells of knitting。 Next； Chichikov repaired to the Vice…Governor's； and thence to the house of the Public Prosecutor； to that of the President of the Local Council； to that of the Chief of Police； to that of the Commissioner of Taxes； and to that of the local Director of State Factories。 True； the task of remembering every big…wig in this world of ours is not a very easy one； but at least our visitor displayed the greatest activity in his work of paying calls； seeing that he went so far as to pay his respects also to the Inspector of the Municipal Department of Medicine and to the City Architect。 Thereafter he sat thoughtfully in his britchkaplunged in meditation on the subject of whom else it might be well to visit。 However； not a single magnate had been neglected； and in conversation with his hosts he had contrived to flatter each separate one。 For instance to the Governor he had hinted that a stranger； on arriving in his； the Governor's province； would conceive that he had reached Paradise； so velvety were the roads。 〃Governors who appoint capable subordinates；〃 had said Chichikov； 〃are deserving of the most ample meed of praise。〃 Again； to the Chief of Police our hero had passed a most gratifying remark on the subject of the local gendarmery； while in his conversation with the Vice…Governor and the President of the Local Council （neither of whom had； as yet； risen above the rank of State Councillor） he had twice been guilty of the gaucherie of addressing his interlocutors with the title of 〃Your Excellency〃a blunder which had not failed to delight them。 In the result the Governor had invited him to a reception the same evening； and certain other officials had followed suit by inviting him； one of them to dinner； a second to a tea…party； and so forth； and so forth。
Of himself； however； the traveller had spoken little； or； if he had spoken at any length； he had done so in a general sort of way and with marked modesty。 Indeed； at moments of the kind his discourse had assumed something of a literary vein； in that invariably he had stated that； being a worm of no account in the world； he was deserving of no consideration at the hands of his fellows； that in his time he had undergone many strange experiences； that subsequently he had suffered much in the cause of Truth； that he had many enemies seeking his life； and that； being desirous of rest； he was now engaged in searching for a spot wherein to dwellwherefore； having stumbled upon the town in which he now found himself； he had considered it his bounden duty to evince his respect for the chief authorities of the place。 This； and no more； was all that； for the moment； the town succeeded in learning about the new arrival。 Naturally he lost no time in presenting himself at the Governor's evening party。 First； however； his preparations for that function occupied a space of over two hours； and necessitated an attention to his toilet of a kind not commonly seen。 That is to say； after a brief post…grandial nap he called for soap and water； and spent a considerable period in the task of scrubbing his cheeks （which； for the purpose； he supported from within with his tongue） and then of drying his full； round face； from the ears downwards； with a towel which he took from the waiter's shoulder。 Twice he snorted into the waiter's countenance as he did this； and then he posted himself in front of the mirror； donned a false shirt…front； plucked out a couple of hairs which were protruding from his nose； and appeared vested in a frockcoat of bilberry…coloured check。 Thereafter driving through broad streets sparsely lighted with lanterns； he arrived at the Governor's residence to find it illuminated as for a ball。 Barouches with gleaming lamps； a couple of gendarmes posted before the doors； a babel of postillions' criesnothing of a kind likely to be impressive was wanting； and； on reaching the salon； the visitor actually found himself obliged to close his eyes for a moment； so strong was the mingled sheen of lamps； candles； and feminine apparel。 Everything seemed suffused with light； and everywhere； flitting and flashing； were to be seen black coatseven as on a hot summer's day flies revolve around a sugar loaf while the old housekeeper is cutting it into cubes before the open window； and the children of the house crowd around her to watch the movements of her rugged hands as those members ply the smoking pestle； and airy squadrons of flies； borne on the breeze； enter boldly； as though free of the house； and； taking advantage of the fact that the glare of the sunshine is troubling the old lady's sight； disperse themselves over broken and unbroken fragments alike； even though the lethargy induced by the opulence of summer and the rich shower of dainties to be encountered at every step has induced them to enter less for the purpose of eating than for that of showing themselves in public； of parading up and down the sugar loaf； of rubbing both their hindquarters and their fore against one another； of cleaning their bodies under the wings； of extending their forelegs over their heads and grooming themselves； and of flying out of the window again to return with other predatory squadrons。 Indeed； so dazed was Chichikov that scarcely did he realise that the Governor was taking him by the arm and presenting him to his （the Governor's） lady。 Yet the newly…arrived guest kept his head sufficiently to contrive to murmur some such compliment as might fittingly come from a middle…aged individual of a rank neither excessively high nor excessively low。 Next； when couples had been formed for dancing and the remainder of the company found itself pressed back against the walls； Chichikov folded his arms； and carefully scrutinised the dancers。 Some of the ladies were dressed well and in the fashion； while the remainder were clad in such garments as God usually bestows upon a provincial town。 Also here； as elsewhere； the men belonged to two separate and distinct categories； one of which comprised slender individuals who； flitting around the ladies； were scarcely to be distinguished from denizens of the metropolis； so carefully； so artistically； groomed were their whiskers； so presentable their oval； clean…shaven faces； so easy the manner of their dancing attendance upon their womenfolk； so glib their French conversation as they quizzed their female companions。 As for the other category； it comprised individuals who； stout； or of the same build as Chichikov （that is to say； neither very portly nor very lean）； backed and sidled away from the ladies； and kept peering hither and thither to see whether the Governor's footmen had set out green tables