t； because I came home late； so I handed it to Antip Prochorov； the bell…ringer； for him to take care of。' 'Bell…ringer； indeed！ Then HE gave you a passport？' 'No； I did not receive a passport from him either。' 'What？'and here the Captain shouts another expletive'How dare you keep on lying？ Where is YOUR OWN passport？' 'I had one all right；' you reply cunningly； 'but must have dropped it somewhere on the road as I came along。' 'And what about that soldier's coat？' asks the Captain with an impolite addition。 'Whence did you get it？ And what of the priest's cashbox and copper money？'' 'About them I know nothing；' you reply doggedly。 'Never at any time have I committed a theft。' 'Then how is it that the coat was found at your place？' 'I do not know。 Probably some one else put it there。' 'You rascal； you rascal！' shouts the Captain； shaking his head； and closing in upon you。 'Put the leg…irons upon him； and off with him to prison！' 'With pleasure；' you reply as； taking a snuff…box from your pocket； you offer a pinch to each of the two gendarmes who are manacling you； while also inquiring how long they have been discharged from the army； and in what wars they may have served。 And in prison you remain until your case comes on； when the justice orders you to be removed from Tsarev…Kokshaika to such and such another prison； and a second justice orders you to be transferred thence to Vesiegonsk or somewhere else； and you go flitting from gaol to gaol； and saying each time； as you eye your new habitation； 'The last place was a good deal cleaner than this one is； and one could play babki＇3＇ there； and stretch one's legs； and see a little society。'〃
＇1＇ The names Kariakin and Volokita might； perhaps； be translated as 〃Gallant〃 and 〃Loafer。〃
＇2＇ Tradesman or citizen。
＇3＇ The game of knucklebones。
〃'Abakum Thirov；'〃 Chichikov went on after a pause。 〃What of YOU； brother？ Where； and in what capacity； are YOU disporting yourself？ Have you gone to the Volga country； and become bitten with the life of freedom； and joined the fishermen of the river？〃
Here； breaking off； Chichikov relapsed into silent meditation。 Of what was he thinking as he sat there？ Was he thinking of the fortunes of Abakum Thirov； or was he meditating as meditates every Russian when his thoughts once turn to the joys of an emancipated existence？
〃Ah； well！〃 he sighed； looking at his watch。 〃It has now gone twelve o'clock。 Why have I so forgotten myself？ There is still much to be done； yet I go shutting myself up and letting my thoughts wander！ What a fool I am！〃
So saying； he exchanged his Scottish costume （of a shirt and nothing else） for attire of a more European nature； after which he pulled tight the waistcoat over his ample stomach； sprinkled himself with eau…de…Cologne； tucked his papers under his arm； took his fur cap； and set out for the municipal offices； for the purpose of completing the transfer of souls。 The fact that he hurried along was not due to a fear of being late （seeing that the President of the Local Council was an intimate acquaintance of his； as well as a functionary who could shorten or prolong an interview at will； even as Homer's Zeus was able to shorten or to prolong a night or a day； whenever it became necessary to put an end to the fighting of his favourite heroes； or to enable them to join battle）； but rather to a feeling that he would like to have the affair concluded as quickly as possible； seeing that； throughout； it had been an anxious and difficult business。 Also； he could not get rid of the idea that his souls were unsubstantial things； and that therefore； under the circumstances； his shoulders had better be relieved of their load with the least possible delay。 Pulling on his cinnamon…coloured； bear…lined overcoat as he went； he had just stepped thoughtfully into the street when he collided with a gentleman dressed in a similar coat and an ear…lappeted fur cap。 Upon that the gentleman uttered an exclamation。 Behold； it was Manilov！ At once the friends became folded in a strenuous embrace； and remained so locked for fully five minutes。 Indeed； the kisses exchanged were so vigorous that both suffered from toothache for the greater portion of the day。 Also； Manilov's delight was such that only his nose and lips remained visiblethe eyes completely disappeared。 Afterwards he spent about a quarter of an hour in holding Chichikov's hand and chafing it vigorously。 Lastly； he； in the most pleasant and exquisite terms possible； intimated to his friend that he had just been on his way to embrace Paul Ivanovitch； and upon this followed a compliment of the kind which would more fittingly have been addressed to a lady who was being asked to accord a partner the favour of a dance。 Chichikov had opened his mouth to replythough even HE felt at a loss how to acknowledge what had just been saidwhen Manilov cut him short by producing from under his coat a roll of paper tied with red riband。
〃What have you there？〃 asked Chichikov。
〃The list of my souls。〃
〃Ah！〃 And as Chichikov unrolled the document and ran his eye over it he could not but marvel at the elegant neatness with which it had been inscribed。
〃It is a beautiful piece of writing；〃 he said。 〃In fact； there will be no need to make a copy of it。 Also； it has a border around its edge！ Who worked that exquisite border？〃
〃Do not ask me；〃 said Manilov。
〃Did YOU do it？〃
〃No； my wife。〃
〃Dear； dear！〃 Chichikov cried。 〃To think that I should have put her to so much trouble！〃
〃NOTHING could be too much trouble where Paul Ivanovitch is concerned。
Chichikov bowed his acknowledgements。 Next； on learning that he was on his way to the municipal offices for the purpose of completing the transfer； Manilov expressed his readiness to accompany him； wherefore the pair linked arm in arm and proceeded together。 Whenever they encountered a slight rise in the groundeven the smallest unevenness or difference of levelManilov supported Chichikov with such energy as almost to lift him off his feet； while accompanying the service with a smiling implication that not if HE could help it should Paul Ivanovitch slip or fall。 Nevertheless this conduct appeared to embarrass Chichikov； either because he could not find any fitting words of gratitude or because he considered the proceeding tiresome； and it was with a sense of relief that he debouched upon the square where the municipal officesa large； three…storied building of a chalky whiteness which probably symbolised the purity of the souls engaged withinwere situated。 No other building in the square could vie with them in size； seeing that the remaining edifices consisted only of a sentry…box； a shelter for two or three cabmen； and a long hoardingthe latter adorned with the usual bills； posters； and scrawls in chalk and charcoal。 At intervals； from the windows of the second and third stories of the municipal offices； the incorruptible heads of certain of the attendant priests of Themis would peer quickly forth； and as quickly disappear againprobably for the reason that a superior official had just entered the room。 Meanwhile the two friends ascended the staircasenay； almost flew up it； since； longing to get rid of Manilov's ever…supporting arm； Chichikov hastened his steps； and Manilov kept darting forward to anticipate any possible failure on the part of his companion's legs。 Consequently the pair were breathless when they reached the first corridor。 In passing it may be remarked that neither corridors nor rooms evinced any of that cleanliness and purity which marked the exterior of the building； for such attributes were not troubled about within； and anything that was dirty remained so； and donned no meritricious； purely external； disguise。 It was as though Themis received her visitors in neglige and a dressing…gown。 The author would also give a description of the various offices through which our hero passed； were it not that he （the author） stands in awe of such legal haunts。
Approaching the first desk which he happened to encounter； Chichikov inquired of the two young officials who were seated at it whether they would kindly tell him where business relating to serf…indenture was transacted。
〃Of what nature； precisely； IS your business？〃 countered one of the youthful officials as he turned himself round。
〃I desire to make an application。〃
〃In connection with a purchase？〃
〃Yes。 But； as I say； I should like first to know where I can find the desk devoted to such business。 Is it here or elsewhere？〃
〃You must state what it is you have bought； and for how much。 THEN we shall be happy to give you the information。〃
Chichikov perceived that the officials' motive was merely one of curiosity； as often happens when young tchinovniks desire to cut a more important and imposing figure than is rightfully theirs。
〃Look here； young sirs；〃 he said。 〃I know for a fact that all serf business； no matter to what value； is transacted at one desk alone。 Consequently I again request you to direct me to that desk。 Of course； if you do not know your business I can easily ask some one else。〃
To this the tchinovniks made no reply beyond pointing towards a corner of the room where an elderly man appeared to be engaged in sorting some papers。 Accordingly Chichikov and Manilov threaded their way in his direction through the desks； whereupon the elderly man became violently busy。
〃Would you mind telling me；〃 said Chichikov； bowing； 〃whether this is the desk for serf affairs？〃
The elderly man raised his eyes； and said stiffly：
〃This is NOT the desk for serf affairs。〃
〃Where is it； then？〃
〃In the Serf Department。〃
〃And where might the Serf Department be？〃
〃In charge of Ivan Antonovitch。〃
〃And where is Ivan Antonovitch？〃
The elderly man pointed to another corner of the room； whither Chichikov and Manilov next directed their steps。 As they advanced； Ivan Antonovitch cast an eye backwards and viewed them askance。 Then； with renewed ardour； he resumed his work of writing。
〃Would you mind telling me；〃 said Chichikov； bowing； 〃whether this is the desk for serf affairs？〃
It appeared as though Ivan Antonovitch had not heard； so completely did he bury himself in his papers and return no reply。 Instantly it became plain that HE