'At heart I have a genuine affection for him, and I am sure that in time he will become a very useful person.'
'Most useful,' Tchitchikov assented. He has the gift of words and a ready pen.'
'But he writes, I expect, rubbish, trashy verses?'
'No, your Excellency, not rubbish.'
'Why what?'
'He is writing … a history, your Excellency.'
'A history! A history of what?'
'A history …' At this point Tchitchikov paused, and either because there was a general sitting before him or to give more importance to the subject, added, 'A history of generals, your Excellency.'
'Of generals? What generals?'
'All kinds of generals, your Excellency, that is, to be more exact … the generals of our country.'
'Excuse me, I don't quite understand. … How do you mean? Is it the history of some period, or separate biographies, and is it of all Russian generals or only those that took part in the campaign of 1812?'
'That is just it, your Excellency, the history of those that took part in the campaign of 1812.'
'Then why does he not come to me? I could give him a great deal of new and very interesting material.'
'He does not dare, your Excellency.'
