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¡¨Don't¡¡you¡¡know£¿¡¨¡¡queried¡¡Chichikov¡£

¡¨No£»¡¡barin£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡peasant¡£

¡¨What£¿¡¡You¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡skinflint¡¡Plushkin¡¡who¡¡feeds¡¡his¡¡people¡¡so¡¡badly£¿¡¨

¡¨Of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡do£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡the¡¡fellow£»¡¡and¡¡added¡¡thereto¡¡an¡¡uncomplimentary¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡a¡¡species¡¡not¡¡ordinarily¡¡employed¡¡in¡¡polite¡¡society¡£¡¡We¡¡may¡¡guess¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pretty¡¡apt¡¡expression£»¡¡since¡¡long¡¡after¡¡the¡¡man¡¡had¡¡become¡¡lost¡¡to¡¡view¡¡Chichikov¡¡was¡¡still¡¡laughing¡¡in¡¡his¡¡britchka¡£¡¡And£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡the¡¡language¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡populace¡¡is¡¡always¡¡forcible¡¡in¡¡its¡¡phraseology¡£



CHAPTER¡¡VI

Chichikov's¡¡amusement¡¡at¡¡the¡¡peasant's¡¡outburst¡¡prevented¡¡him¡¡from¡¡noticing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡a¡¡large¡¡and¡¡populous¡¡village£»¡¡but£»¡¡presently£»¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡jolt¡¡aroused¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡driving¡¡over¡¡wooden¡¡pavements¡¡of¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡compared¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡cobblestones¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡had¡¡been¡¡as¡¡nothing¡£¡¡Like¡¡the¡¡keys¡¡of¡¡a¡¡piano£»¡¡the¡¡planks¡¡kept¡¡rising¡¡and¡¡falling£»¡¡and¡¡unguarded¡¡passage¡¡over¡¡them¡¡entailed¡¡either¡¡a¡¡bump¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡neck¡¡or¡¡a¡¡bruise¡¡on¡¡the¡¡forehead¡¡or¡¡a¡¡bite¡¡on¡¡the¡¡tip¡¡of¡¡one's¡¡tongue¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡Chichikov¡¡noticed¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡decay¡¡about¡¡the¡¡buildings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡village¡£¡¡The¡¡beams¡¡of¡¡the¡¡huts¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡dark¡¡with¡¡age£»¡¡many¡¡of¡¡their¡¡roofs¡¡were¡¡riddled¡¡with¡¡holes£»¡¡others¡¡had¡¡but¡¡a¡¡tile¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡remaining£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡others¡¡were¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rib¡­like¡¡framework¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡seem¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡themselves¡¡had¡¡removed¡¡the¡¡laths¡¡and¡¡traverses£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡very¡¡natural¡¡plea¡¡that¡¡the¡¡huts¡¡were¡¡no¡¡protection¡¡against¡¡the¡¡rain£»¡¡and¡¡therefore£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡entered¡¡in¡¡bucketfuls£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡particular¡¡object¡¡to¡¡be¡¡gained¡¡by¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡such¡¡huts¡¡when¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡tavern¡¡and¡¡the¡¡highroad¡¡and¡¡other¡¡places¡¡to¡¡resort¡¡to¡£

Suddenly¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡appeared¡¡from¡¡an¡¡outbuildingapparently¡¡the¡¡housekeeper¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mansion£»¡¡but¡¡so¡¡roughly¡¡and¡¡dirtily¡¡dressed¡¡as¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡seem¡¡indistinguishable¡¡from¡¡a¡¡man¡£¡¡Chichikov¡¡inquired¡¡for¡¡the¡¡master¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place¡£

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¡¨I¡¡have¡¡some¡¡business¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Chichikov¡£

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Whilst¡¡Chichikov¡¡was¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡this¡¡extraordinary¡¡mess£»¡¡a¡¡side¡¡door¡¡opened¡¡and¡¡there¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡housekeeper¡¡who¡¡had¡¡met¡¡him¡¡near¡¡the¡¡outbuildings¡£¡¡But¡¡now¡¡Chichikov¡¡perceived¡¡this¡¡person¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡man¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡a¡¡woman£»¡¡since¡¡a¡¡female¡¡housekeeper¡¡would¡¡have¡¡had¡¡no¡¡beard¡¡to¡¡shave£»¡¡whereas¡¡the¡¡chin¡¡of¡¡the¡¡newcomer£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡his¡¡cheeks£»¡¡strongly¡¡resembled¡¡the¡¡curry¡­comb¡¡which¡¡is¡¡used¡¡for¡¡grooming¡¡horses¡£¡¡Chichikov¡¡assumed¡¡a¡¡questioning¡¡air£»¡¡and¡¡waited¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡what¡¡the¡¡housekeeper¡¡might¡¡have¡¡to¡¡say¡£¡¡The¡¡housekeeper¡¡did¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡At¡¡length£»¡¡surprised¡¡at¡¡the¡¡misunderstanding£»¡¡Chichikov¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡first¡¡question¡£

¡¨Is¡¡the¡¡master¡¡at¡¡home£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡inquired¡£

¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡person¡¡addressed¡£

¡¨Then¡¡were¡¡is¡¡he£¿¡¨¡¡continued¡¡Chichikov¡£

¡¨Are¡¡you¡¡blind£»¡¡my¡¡good¡¡sir£¿¡¨¡¡retorted¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¨_I_¡¡am¡¡the¡¡master¡£¡¨

Involuntarily¡¡our¡¡hero¡¡started¡¡and¡¡stared¡£¡¡During¡¡his¡¡travels¡¡it¡¡had¡¡befallen¡¡him¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡various¡¡types¡¡of¡¡mensome¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¡types¡¡which¡¡you¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡encountered£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡to¡¡Chichikov¡¡this¡¡particular¡¡species¡¡was¡¡new¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man's¡¡face¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡very¡¡specialit¡¡was¡¡much¡¡like¡¡the¡¡wizened¡¡face¡¡of¡¡many¡¡another¡¡dotard£»¡¡save¡¡that¡¡the¡¡chin¡¡was¡¡so¡¡greatly¡¡projected¡¡that¡¡whenever¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡he¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡wipe¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡handkerchief¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡dribbling£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡his¡¡small¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡grown¡¡dull£»¡¡but¡¡twinkled¡¡under¡¡their¡¡overhanging¡¡brows¡¡like¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡mice¡¡when£»¡¡with¡¡attentive¡¡ears¡¡and¡¡sensitive¡¡whiskers£»¡¡they¡¡snuff¡¡the¡¡air¡¡and¡¡peer¡¡forth¡¡from¡¡their¡¡holes¡¡to¡¡see¡¡whether¡¡a¡¡cat¡¡or¡¡a¡¡boy¡¡may¡¡not¡¡be¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vicinity¡£¡¡No£»¡¡the¡¡most¡¡noticeable¡¡feature¡¡about¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡his¡¡clothes¡£¡¡In¡¡no¡¡way¡¡could¡¡it¡¡have¡¡been¡¡guessed¡¡of¡¡what¡¡his¡¡coat¡¡was¡¡made£»¡¡for¡¡both¡¡its¡¡sleeves¡¡and¡¡its¡¡skirts¡¡were¡¡so¡¡ragged¡¡and¡¡filthy¡¡as¡¡to¡¡defy¡¡description£»¡¡while¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡two¡¡posterior¡¡tails£»¡¡there¡¡dangled¡¡four¡¡of¡¡those¡¡appendages£»¡¡with£»¡¡projecting¡¡from¡¡them£»¡¡a¡¡torn¡¡newspaper¡£¡¡Also£»¡¡around¡¡his¡¡neck¡¡there¡¡was¡¡wrapped¡¡something¡¡which¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a¡¡stocking£»¡¡a¡¡garter£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡stomacher£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡certainly¡¡not¡¡a¡¡tie¡£¡¡In¡¡short£»¡¡had¡¡Chichikov¡¡chanced¡¡to¡¡encounter¡¡him¡¡at¡¡a¡¡church¡¡door£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡bestowed¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡a¡¡copper¡¡or¡¡two¡¡£¨for£»¡¡to¡¡do¡¡our¡¡hero¡¡justice£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡sympathetic¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡never¡¡refrained¡¡from¡¡presenting¡¡a¡¡beggar¡¡with¡¡alms£©£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡present¡¡case¡¡there¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡mendicant£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡landownerand¡¡a¡¡landowner¡¡possessed¡¡of¡¡fully¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡serfs£»¡¡the¡¡superior¡¡of¡¡all¡¡his¡¡neighbours¡¡in¡¡wealth¡¡of¡¡flour¡¡and¡¡grain£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡owner¡¡of¡¡storehouses£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡forth£»¡¡that¡¡were¡¡crammed¡¡with¡¡homespun¡¡cloth¡¡and¡¡linen£»¡¡tanned¡¡and¡¡undressed¡¡sheepskins£»¡¡dried¡¡fish£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡conceivable¡¡species¡¡of¡¡produce¡£¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡such¡¡a¡¡phenomenon¡¡is¡¡rare¡¡in¡¡Russia£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡tendency¡¡is¡¡rather¡¡to¡¡prodigality¡¡than¡¡to¡¡parsimony¡£

For¡¡several¡¡minutes¡¡Plushkin¡¡stood¡¡mute£»¡¡while¡¡Chichikov¡¡remained¡¡so¡¡dazed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡host¡¡and¡¡everything¡¡else¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡too£»¡¡could¡¡not¡¡begin¡¡a¡¡conversation£»¡¡but¡¡stood¡¡wondering¡¡how¡¡best¡¡to¡¡find¡¡words¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡his¡¡visit¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡while¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡expressing¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡that£»¡¡having¡¡heard¡¡so¡¡much¡¡of¡¡his¡¡host's¡¡benevolence¡¡and¡¡other¡¡rare¡¡qualities¡¡of¡¡spirit£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡considered¡¡it¡¡his¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡come¡¡and¡¡pay¡¡a¡¡tribute¡¡of¡¡respect£»¡¡but¡¡presently¡¡even¡¡HE¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡conclusion¡¡that¡¡this¡¡would¡¡be¡¡overdoing¡¡the¡¡thing£»¡¡and£»¡¡after¡¡another¡¡glance¡¡round¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡the¡¡phrase¡¡¡¨benevolence¡¡and¡¡other¡¡rare¡¡qualities¡¡of¡¡spirit¡¨¡¡might¡¡to¡¡advantage¡¡give¡¡place¡¡to¡¡¡¨economy¡¡and¡¡genius¡¡for¡¡method¡£¡¨¡¡Accordingly£»¡¡the¡¡speech¡¡mentally¡¡composed£»¡¡he¡¡said¡¡aloud¡¡that£»¡¡having¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡Plushkin's¡¡talents¡¡for¡¡thrifty¡¡and¡¡systematic¡¡management£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡considered¡¡himself¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡acquaintance¡¡of¡¡his¡¡host£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡present¡¡him¡¡with¡¡his¡¡personal¡¡compliments¡¡£¨I¡¡need¡¡hardly¡¡say¡¡that¡¡Chichikov¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡have¡¡alleged¡¡a¡¡better¡¡reason£»¡¡had¡¡any¡¡better¡¡one¡¡happened£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡come¡¡into¡¡his¡¡head£©¡£

With¡¡toothless¡¡gums¡¡Plushkin¡¡murmured¡¡something¡¡in¡¡reply£»¡¡but¡¡nothing¡¡is¡¡known¡¡as¡¡to¡¡its¡¡precise¡¡terms¡¡beyond¡¡that¡¡it¡¡included¡¡a¡¡statement¡¡that¡¡the¡¡devil¡¡was¡¡at¡¡liberty¡¡to¡¡fly¡¡away¡¡with¡¡Chichikov's¡¡sentiments¡£¡¡However£»¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡of¡¡Russian¡¡hospitality¡¡do¡¡not¡¡permit¡¡even¡¡of¡¡a¡¡miser¡¡infringing¡¡their¡¡rules£»¡¡wherefore¡¡Plushkin¡¡added¡¡to¡¡the¡¡foregoing¡¡a¡¡more¡¡civil¡¡invitation¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seated¡£

¡¨It¡¡is¡¡long¡¡since¡¡I¡¡last¡¡received¡¡a¡¡visitor£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¨Also£»¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡little¡¡good¡¡in¡¡their¡¡coming¡£¡¡Once¡¡introduce¡¡the¡¡abominable¡¡custom¡¡of¡¡folk¡¡paying¡¡calls£»¡¡and¡¡forthwith¡¡there¡¡will¡¡ensue¡¡such¡¡ruin¡¡to¡¡the¡¡management¡¡of¡¡estates¡¡that¡¡landowners¡¡will¡¡be¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡feed¡¡their¡¡horses¡¡on¡¡hay¡£¡¡Not¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡long¡¡time¡¡have¡¡I¡¡eaten¡¡a¡¡meal¡¡away¡¡from¡¡homealthough¡¡my¡¡own¡¡kitchen¡¡is¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡has¡¡its¡¡chimney¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a¡¡state¡¡that£»¡¡were¡¡it¡¡to¡¡become¡¡overheated£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡instantly¡¡catch¡¡fire¡£¡¨

¡¨What¡¡a¡¡brute£¡¡¨¡¡thought¡¡Chichikov¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡lucky¡¡to¡¡have¡¡got¡¡through¡¡so¡¡much¡¡pastry¡¡and¡¡stuffed¡¡shoulder¡¡of¡¡mutton¡¡at¡¡Sobakevitch's£¡¡¨

¡¨Also£»¡¨¡¡went¡¡on¡¡Plushkin£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡ashamed¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡hardly¡¡a¡¡wisp¡¡of¡¡fodder¡¡does¡¡the¡¡place¡¡contain¡£¡¡But¡¡how¡¡can¡¡I¡¡get¡¡fodder£¿¡¡My¡¡lands¡¡are¡¡small£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡peasantry¡¡lazy¡¡fellows¡¡who¡¡hate¡¡work¡¡and¡¡think¡¡of¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡tavern¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡end£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and¡¡spend¡¡my¡¡old¡¡age¡¡in¡¡roaming¡¡about¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¨

¡¨But¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡told¡¡that¡¡you¡¡possess¡¡over¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡serfs£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Chichikov¡£

¡¨Who¡¡told¡¡you¡¡that£¿¡¡No¡¡matter¡¡

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