At all events, for a moment or two our Chichikov felt that he was a young man again, if not exactly a military officer.

On perceiving an empty chair beside the mother and daughter, he hastened to occupy it, and though conversation at first hung fire, things gradually improved, and he acquired more confidence.
At this point I must reluctantly deviate to say that men of weight and high office are always a trifle ponderous when conversing with ladies.
Young lieutenants--or, at all events, officers not above the rank of captain--are far more successful at the game.

How they contrive to be so God only knows.

Let them but make the most inane of remarks, and at once the maiden by their side will be rocking with laughter; whereas, should a State Councillor enter into conversation with a damsel, and remark that the Russian Empire is one of vast extent, or utter a compliment which he has elaborated not without a certain measure of intelligence (however strongly the said compliment may smack of a book), of a surety the thing will fall flat.

Even a witticism from him will be laughed at far more by him himself than it will by the lady who may happen to be listening to his remarks.
These comments I have interposed for the purpose of explaining to the reader why, as our hero conversed, the maiden began to yawn.