Why not?
We will do as you wish." "Very well," assented Chichikov.
"Bravo, bravo!" the company shouted.

"Long live Paul Ivanovitch! Hurrah! Hurrah!" And with that every one approached to clink glasses with him, and he readily accepted the compliment, and accepted it many times in succession.

Indeed, as the hours passed on, the hilarity of the company increased yet further, and more than once the President (a man of great urbanity when thoroughly in his cups) embraced the chief guest of the day with the heartfelt words, "My dearest fellow! My own most precious of friends!" Nay, he even started to crack his fingers, to dance around Chichikov's chair, and to sing snatches of a popular song.

To the champagne succeeded Hungarian wine, which had the effect of still further heartening and enlivening the company.

By this time every one had forgotten about whist, and given himself up to shouting and disputing.