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e and camphor。 Also； to while away the hours； he made new and more detailed lists of the souls which he had bought； perused a work by the Duchesse de la Valliere＇2＇； rummaged in his portmanteau； looked through various articles and papers which he discovered in his dispatch…box； and found every one of these occupations tedious。 Nor could he understand why none of his official friends had come to see him and inquire after his health； seeing that； not long since； there had been standing in front of the inn the drozhkis both of the Postmaster； the Public Prosecutor； and the President of the Council。 He wondered and wondered； and then； with a shrug of his shoulders； fell to pacing the room。 At length he felt better； and his spirits rose at the prospect of once more going out into the fresh air； wherefore； having shaved a plentiful growth of hair from his face； he dressed with such alacrity as almost to cause a split in his trousers； sprinkled himself with eau…de…Cologne； and wrapping himself in warm clothes； and turning up the collar of his coat； sallied forth into the street。 His first destination was intended to be the Governor's mansion； and； as he walked along； certain thoughts concerning the Governor's daughter would keep whirling through his head； so that almost he forgot where he was； and took to smiling and cracking jokes to himself。
＇2＇ One of the mistresses of Louis XIV。 of France。 In 1680 she wrote a book called Reflexions sur la Misericorde de Dieu； par une Dame Penitente。
Arrived at the Governor's entrance； he was about to divest himself of his scarf when a Swiss footman greeted him with the words； 〃I am forbidden to admit you。〃
〃What？〃 he exclaimed。 〃You do not know me？ Look at me again； and see if you do not recognise me。〃
〃Of course I recognise you；〃 the footman replied。 〃I have seen you before； but have been ordered to admit any one else rather than Monsieur Chichikov。〃
〃Indeed？ And why so？〃
〃Those are my orders； and they must be obeyed；〃 said the footman； confronting Chichikov with none of that politeness with which； on former occasions； he had hastened to divest our hero of his wrappings。 Evidently he was of opinion that； since the gentry declined to receive the visitor； the latter must certainly be a rogue。
〃I cannot understand it；〃 said Chichikov to himself。 Then he departed； and made his way to the house of the President of the Council。 But so put about was that official by Chichikov's entry that he could not utter two consecutive wordshe could only murmur some rubbish which left both his visitor and himself out of countenance。 Chichikov wondered； as he left the house； what the President's muttered words could have meant； but failed to make head or tail of them。 Next； he visited； in turn； the Chief of Police； the Vice…Governor； the Postmaster； and others； but in each case he either failed to be accorded admittance or was received so strangely； and with such a measure of constraint and conversational awkwardness and absence of mind and embarrassment； that he began to fear for the sanity of his hosts。 Again and again did he strive to divine the cause； but could not do so； so he went wandering aimlessly about the town； without succeeding in making up his mind whether he or the officials had gone crazy。 At length； in a state bordering upon bewilderment； he returned to the innto the establishment whence； that every afternoon； he had set forth in such exuberance of spirits。 Feeling the need of something to do； he ordered tea； and； still marvelling at the strangeness of his position； was about to pour out the beverage when the door opened and Nozdrev made his appearance。
〃What says the proverb？〃 he began。 〃'To see a friend； seven versts is not too long a round to make。' I happened to be passing the house； saw a light in your window； and thought to myself： 'Now； suppose I were to run up and pay him a visit？ It is unlikely that he will be asleep。' Ah； ha！ I see tea on your table！ Good！ Then I will drink a cup with you； for I had wretched stuff for dinner； and it is beginning to lie heavy on my stomach。 Also； tell your man to fill me a pipe。 Where is your own pipe？〃
〃I never smoke；〃 rejoined Chichikov drily。
〃Rubbish！ As if I did not know what a chimney…pot you are！ What is your man's name？ Hi； Vakhramei！ Come here！〃
〃Petrushka is his name； not Vakhramei。〃
〃Indeed？ But you USED to have a man called Vakhramei； didn't you？〃
〃No； never。〃
〃Oh； well。 Then it must be Derebin's man I am thinking of。 What a lucky fellow that Derebin is！ An aunt of his has gone and quarrelled with her son for marrying a serf woman； and has left all her property to HIM； to Derebin。 Would that _I_ had an aunt of that kind to provide against future contingencies！ But why have you been hiding yourself away？ I suppose the reason has been that you go in for abstruse subjects and are fond of reading〃 （why Nozdrev should have drawn these conclusions no one could possibly have saidleast of all Chichikov himself）。 〃By the way； I can tell you of something that would have found you scope for your satirical vein〃 （the conclusion as to Chichikov's 〃satirical vein〃 was； as before； altogether unwarranted on Nozdrev's part）。 〃That is to say； you would have seen merchant Likhachev losing a pile of money at play。 My word； you would have laughed！ A fellow with me named Perependev said： 'Would that Chichikov had been here！ It would have been the very thing for him！'〃 （As a matter of fact； never since the day of his birth had Nozdrev met any one of the name of Perependev。） 〃However； my friend； you must admit that you treated me rather badly the day that we played that game of chess； but； as I won the game； I bear you no malice。 A propos； I am just from the President's； and ought to tell you that the feeling against you in the town is very strong； for every one believes you to be a forger of currency notes。 I myself was sent for and questioned about you； but I stuck up for you through thick and thin； and told the tchinovniks that I had been at school with you； and had known your father。 In fact； I gave the fellows a knock or two for themselves。〃
〃You say that I am believed to be a forger？〃 said Chichikov； starting from his seat。
〃Yes；〃 said Nozdrev。 〃Why have you gone and frightened everybody as you have done？ Some of our folk are almost out of their minds about it； and declare you to be either a brigand in disguise or a spy。 Yesterday the Public Prosecutor even died of it； and is to be buried to…morrow〃 （this was true in so far as that； on the previous day； the official in question had had a fatal strokeprobably induced by the excitement of the public meeting）。 〃Of course； _I_ don't suppose you to be anything of the kind； but； you see； these fellows are in a blue funk about the new Governor…General； for they think he will make trouble for them over your affair。 A propos； he is believed to be a man who puts on airs； and turns up his nose at everything； and if so； he will get on badly with the dvoriane； seeing that fellows of that sort need to be humoured a bit。 Yes； my word！ Should the new Governor…General shut himself up in his study； and give no balls； there will be the very devil to pay！ By the way； Chichikov； that is a risky scheme of yours。〃
〃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。 On the other hand； the niece of a friend of mine named Bikusovshe IS a girl； and no mistake！ A regular what you might call 'miracle in muslin！'〃
〃What on earth are you talking about？〃 asked Chichikov with his eyes distended。 〃HOW could I carry off the Governor's daughter？ What on earth do you mean？〃
〃Come； come！ What a secretive fellow you are！ My only object in having come to see you is to lend you a helping hand in the matter。 Look here。 On condition that you will lend me three thousand roubles； I will stand you the cost of the wedding； the koliaska； and the relays of horses。 I must have the money even if I die for it。〃
Throughout Nozdrev's maunderings Chichikov had been rubbing his eyes to ascertain whether or not he was dreaming。 What with the charge of being a forger； the accusation of having schemed an abduction； the death of the Public Prosecutor （whatever might have been its cause）； and the advent of a new Governor…General； he felt utterly dismayed。
〃Things having come to their present pass；〃 he reflected； 〃I had better not linger hereI had better be off at once。〃
Getting rid of Nozdrev as soon as he could； he sent for Selifan； and ordered him to be up at daybreak； in order to clean the britchka and to have everything ready for a start at six o'clock。 Yet； though Selifan replied； 〃Very well； Paul Ivanovitch；〃 he hesitated awhile by the door。 Next； Chichikov bid Petrushka get out the dusty portmanteau from under the bed； and then set to work to cram into it； pell…mell； socks； shirts； collars （both clean and dirty）； boot trees； a calendar； and a variety of other articles。