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The Inspector-General by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol
page 93 of 169 (55%)
OSIP [taking the money.] Thank you, much obliged
to you, sir. God grant you health and long life. You've
helped a poor man.

GOVERNOR. That's all right. I'm glad to do it.
Now, friend--

ANNA. Listen, Osip, what kind of eyes does your
master like most?

MARYA. Osip, darling, what a dear nose your master
has!

GOVERNOR. Stop now, let me speak. [To Osip.]
Tell me, what does your master care for most? I mean,
when he travels what does he like?

OSIP. As for sights, he likes whatever happens to
come along. But what he likes most of all is to be
received well and entertained well.

GOVERNOR. Entertained well?

OSIP. Yes, for instance, I'm nothing but a serf and
yet he sees to it that I should be treated well, too.
S'help me God! Say we'd stop at some place and he'd
ask, "Well, Osip, have they treated you well?" "No,
badly, your Excellency." "Ah," he'd say, "Osip, he's
not a good host. Remind me when we get home."
"Oh, well," thinks I to myself [with a wave of his
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