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"What scheme to you mean?" Chichikov asked uneasily. "Why, that scheme of carrying off the Governor's daughter. However, to tell the truth, I was expecting something of the kind. No sooner did I see you and her together at the ball than I said to myself: 'Ah, ha! Chichikov is not here for nothing! For my own part, I think you have made a poor choice, for I can see nothing in her at all.
"Sir, I beg of you to inspect my goods," said a tradesman as Chichikov was passing his establishment. "Within my doors you will find a large variety of clothing." "Have you a cloth of bilberry-coloured check?" inquired the person addressed. "I have cloths of the finest kind," replied the tradesman, raising his cap with one hand, and pointing to his shop with the other.
For a moment or two he gazed into Chichikov's eyes with an expression of profound satisfaction. Then he said: "Well done, Paul Ivanovitch! You have indeed made a nice haul!" "That is so," replied Chichikov. "Excellent business! Yes, excellent business!" "I, too, conceive that I could not well have done better.
Also, it seemed that the President had just been conversing with Sobakevitch on the subject of sales of souls, since he now proceeded to congratulate Chichikov on the same a proceeding which rather embarrassed our hero, seeing that Manilov and Sobakevitch, two of the vendors, and persons with whom he had bargained in the strictest privacy, were now confronting one another direct.
You will remember that I was asking you how best a man can set about, proceed in, the matter of growing..." ... "A property for which, had he asked forty thousand, I should still have demanded a reduction." "Hm!" thought Chichikov; then added aloud: "But why do you not purchase it yourself?" "Because to everything there must be assigned a limit. Already my property keeps me sufficiently employed.
Likewise the Postmaster was made to give ground; whereupon he turned and eyed Chichikov with mingled astonishment and subtle irony. But Chichikov never even noticed him; he saw in the distance only the golden-haired beauty.
"What am I to say to the fellow?" thought Chichikov. He reflected for a moment, and then explained that he wanted the dead souls in order to acquire a better standing in society, since at present he possessed little landed property, and only a handful of serfs. "You are lying," said Nozdrev without even letting him finish. "Yes, you are lying my good friend."
And, kissing the boy's head, he turned to Manilov and Madame with the slight smile which one assumes before assuring parents of the guileless merits of their offspring. "But you had better stay, Paul Ivanovitch," said the father as the trio stepped out on to the verandah. "See how the clouds are gathering!" "They are only small ones," replied Chichikov. "And you know your way to Sobakevitch's?"
"Ah, Paul Ivanovitch," said the old man, "how even now the property which you have acquired is blinding your eyes, and causing you to fail to realise your terrible position!" "Yes, my good friend and benefactor," wailed poor Chichikov despairingly, and clasping Murazov by the knees. "Yet save me if you can! The Prince is fond of you, and would do anything for your sake."
"We have all heard of your plight," he began as soon as the door had been safely closed behind him. "Yes, every one has heard of it. But never mind. Things will yet come right. We will do our very best for you, and act as your humble servants in everything. Thirty thousand roubles is our price no more." "Indeed?" said Chichikov. "And, for that, shall I be completely exonerated?"
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