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f a man becoming a landowner； and having a mind to grow wealthy as quickly as possible （in order that he may fulfil his bounden obligations as a citizen）； he can best set about it？〃
〃How he can best set about growing wealthy？〃 repeated Kostanzhoglo。 〃Why；〃
〃Let us go to supper；〃 interrupted the lady of the house； rising from her chair； and moving towards the centre of the room； where she wrapped her shivering young form in a shawl。 Chichikov sprang up with the alacrity of a military man； offered her his arm； and escorted her； as on parade； to the dining…room； where awaiting them there was the soup…toureen。 From it the lid had just been removed； and the room was redolent of the fragrant odour of early spring roots and herbs。 The company took their seats； and at once the servants placed the remainder of the dishes （under covers） upon the table and withdrew； for Kostanzhoglo hated to have servants listening to their employers' conversation； and objected still more to their staring at him all the while that he was eating。
When the soup had been consumed； and glasses of an excellent vintage resembling Hungarian wine had been poured out； Chichikov said to his host：
〃Most worthy sir； allow me once more to direct your attention to the subject of which we were speaking at the point when the conversation became interrupted。 You will remember that I was asking you how best a man can set about； proceed in； the matter of growing 。 。 。〃
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。 。 。 〃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。 Moreover； I should cause our local dvoriane to begin crying out in chorus that I am exploiting their extremities； their ruined position； for the purpose of acquiring land for under its value。 Of that I am weary。〃
〃How readily folk speak evil！〃 exclaimed Chichikov。
〃Yes； and the amount of evil…speaking in our province surpasses belief。 Never will you hear my name mentioned without my being called also a miser and a usurer of the worst possible sort； whereas my accusers justify themselves in everything； and say that； 'though we have wasted our money； we have started a demand for the higher amenities of life； and therefore encouraged industry with our wastefulness； a far better way of doing things than that practised by Kostanzhoglo； who lives like a pig。'〃
〃Would _I_ could live in your 'piggish' fashion！〃 ejaculated Chichikov。
〃And so forth； and so forth。 Yet what are the 'higher amenities of life'？ What good can they do to any one？ Even if a landowner of the day sets up a library； he never looks at a single book in it； but soon relapses into card…playingthe usual pursuit。 Yet folk call me names simply because I do not waste my means upon the giving of dinners！ One reason why I do not give such dinners is that they weary me； and another reason is that I am not used to them。 But come you to my house for the purpose of taking pot luck； and I shall be delighted to see you。 Also； folk foolishly say that I lend money on interest； whereas the truth is that if you should come to me when you are really in need； and should explain to me openly how you propose to employ my money； and I should perceive that you are purposing to use that money wisely； and that you are really likely to profit therebywell； in that case you would find me ready to lend you all that you might ask without interest at all。〃
〃That is a thing which it is well to know；〃 reflected Chichikov。
〃Yes；〃 repeated Kostanzhoglo； 〃under those circumstances I should never refuse you my assistance。 But I do object to throwing my money to the winds。 Pardon me for expressing myself so plainly。 To think of lending money to a man who is merely devising a dinner for his mistress； or planning to furnish his house like a lunatic； or thinking of taking his paramour to a masked ball or a jubilee in honour of some one who had better never have been born！〃
And； spitting； he came near to venting some expression which would scarcely have been becoming in the presence of his wife。 Over his face the dark shadow of hypochondria had cast a cloud； and furrows had formed on his brow and temples； and his every gesture bespoke the influence of a hot； nervous rancour。
〃But allow me once more to direct your attention to the subject of our recently interrupted conversation；〃 persisted Chichikov as he sipped a glass of excellent raspberry wine。 〃That is to say； supposing I were to acquire the property which you have been good enough to bring to my notice； how long would it take me to grow rich？〃
〃That would depend on yourself；〃 replied Kostanzhoglo with grim abruptness and evident ill…humour。 〃You might either grow rich quickly or you might never grow rich at all。 If you made up your mind to grow rich； sooner or later you would find yourself a wealthy man。〃
〃Indeed？〃 ejaculated Chichikov。
〃Yes；〃 replied Kostanzhoglo； as sharply as though he were angry with Chichikov。 〃You would merely need to be fond of work： otherwise you would effect nothing。 The main thing is to like looking after your property。 Believe me； you would never grow weary of doing so。 People would have it that life in the country is dull； whereas； if I were to spend a single day as it is spent by some folk； with their stupid clubs and their restaurants and their theatres； I should die of ennui。 The fools； the idiots； the generations of blind dullards！ But a landowner never finds the days wearisomehe has not the time。 In his life not a moment remains unoccupied； it is full to the brim。 And with it all goes an endless variety of occupations。 And what occupations！ Occupations which genuinely uplift the soul； seeing that the landowner walks with nature and the seasons of the year； and takes part in； and is intimate with； everything which is evolved by creation。 For let us look at the round of the year's labours。 Even before spring has arrived there will have begun a general watching and a waiting for it； and a preparing for sowing； and an apportioning of crops； and a measuring of seed grain by byres； and drying of seed； and a dividing of the workers into teams。 For everything needs to be examined beforehand； and calculations must be made at the very start。 And as soon as ever the ice shall have melted； and the rivers be flowing； and the land have dried sufficiently to be workable； the spade will begin its task in kitchen and flower garden； and the plough and the harrow their tasks in the field； until everywhere there will be tilling and sowing and planting。 And do you understand what the sum of that labour will mean？ It will mean that the harvest is being sown； that the welfare of the world is being sown； that the food of millions is being put into the earth。 And thereafter will come summer； the season of reaping； endless reaping； for suddenly the crops will have ripened； and rye…sheaf will be lying heaped upon rye…sheaf； with； elsewhere； stocks of barley； and of oats； and of wheat。 And everything will be teeming with life； and not a moment will there need to be lost； seeing that； had you even twenty eyes； you would have need for them all。 And after the harvest festivities there will be grain to be carted to byre or stacked in ricks； and stores to be prepared for the winter； and storehouses and kilns and cattle…sheds to be cleaned for the same purpose； and the women to be assigned their tasks； and the totals of everything to be calculated； so that one may see the value of what has been done。 And lastly will come winter； when in every threshing…floor the flail will be working； and the grain； when threshed； will need to be carried from barn to binn； and the mills require to be seen to； and the estate factories to be inspected； and the workmen's huts to be visited for the purpose of ascertaining how the muzhik is faring （for； given a carpenter who is clever with his tools； I； for one； am only too glad to spend an hour or two in his company； so cheering to me is labour）。 And if； in addition； one discerns the end to which everything is moving； and the manner in which the things of earth are everywhere multiplying and multiplying； and bringing forth more and more fruit to one's profiting； I cannot adequately express what takes place in a man's soul。 And that； not because of the growth in his wealthmoney is money and no morebut because he will feel that everything is the work of his own hands； and that he has been the cause of everything； and its creator； and that from him； as from a magician； there has flowed bounty and goodness for all。 In what other calling will you find such delights in prospect？〃 As he spoke； Kostanzhoglo raised his face； and it became clear that the wrinkles had fled from it； and that； like the Tsar on the solemn day of his crowning； Kostanzhoglo's whole form was diffusing light； and his features had in them a gentle radiance。 〃In all the world；〃 he repeated； 〃you will find no joys like these； for herein man imitates the God who projected creation as the supreme happiness； and now demands of man that he； too； shou