ently any lad who had once attracted the master's attention with a manifestation of intelligence needed but to shuffle in his place； or unintentionally to twitch an eyebrow； for the said master at once to burst into a rage； to turn the supposed offender out of the room； and to visit him with unmerciful punishment。 〃Ah； my fine fellow；〃 he would say； 〃I'LL cure you of your impudence and want of respect！ I know you through and through far better than you know yourself； and will take good care that you have to go down upon your knees and curb your appetite。〃 Whereupon the wretched lad would； for no cause of which he was aware； be forced to wear out his breeches on the floor and go hungry for days。 〃Talents and gifts；〃 the schoolmaster would declare； 〃are so much rubbish。 I respect only good behaviour； and shall award full marks to those who conduct themselves properly； even if they fail to learn a single letter of their alphabet： whereas to those in whom I may perceive a tendency to jocularity I shall award nothing； even though they should outdo Solon himself。〃 For the same reason he had no great love of the author Krylov； in that the latter says in one of his Fables： 〃In my opinion； the more one sings； the better one works；〃 and often the pedagogue would relate how； in a former school of his； the silence had been such that a fly could be heard buzzing on the wing； and for the space of a whole year not a single pupil sneezed or coughed in class； and so complete was the absence of all sound that no one could have told that there was a soul in the place。 Of this mentor young Chichikov speedily appraised the mentality； wherefore he fashioned his behaviour to correspond with it。 Not an eyelid； not an eyebrow； would he stir during school hours； howsoever many pinches he might receive from behind； and only when the bell rang would he run to anticipate his fellows in handing the master the three…cornered cap which that dignitary customarily sported； and then to be the first to leave the class…room； and contrive to meet the master not less than two or three times as the latter walked homeward； in order that； on each occasion； he might doff his cap。 And the scheme proved entirely successful。 Throughout the period of his attendance at school he was held in high favour； and； on leaving the establishment； received full marks for every subject； as well as a diploma and a book inscribed （in gilt letters） 〃For Exemplary Diligence and the Perfection of Good Conduct。〃 By this time he had grown into a fairly good…looking youth of the age when the chin first calls for a razor； and at about the same period his father died； leaving behind him； as his estate； four waistcoats completely worn out； two ancient frockcoats； and a small sum of money。 Apparently he had been skilled only in RECOMMENDING the saving of kopecksnot in ACTUALLY PRACTISING the art。 Upon that Chichikov sold the old house and its little parcel of land for a thousand roubles； and removed； with his one serf and the serf's family； to the capital； where he set about organising a new establishment and entering the Civil Service。 Simultaneously with his doing so； his old schoolmaster lost （through stupidity or otherwise） the establishment over which he had hitherto presided； and in which he had set so much store by silence and good behaviour。 Grief drove him to drink； and when nothing was left； even for that purpose； he retiredill； helpless； and starvinginto a broken…down； cheerless hovel。 But certain of his former pupilsthe same clever； witty lads whom he had once been wont to accuse of impertinence and evil conduct generallyheard of his pitiable plight； and collected for him what money they could； even to the point of selling their own necessaries。 Only Chichikov； when appealed to； pleaded inability； and compromised with a contribution of a single piatak＇2＇： which his old schoolfellows straightway returned himfull in the face； and accompanied with a shout of 〃Oh； you skinflint！〃 As for the poor schoolmaster； when he heard what his former pupils had done； he buried his face in his hands； and the tears gushed from his failing eyes as from those of a helpless infant。 〃God has brought you but to weep over my death…bed；〃 he murmured feebly； and added with a profound sigh； on hearing of Chichikov's conduct： 〃Ah； Pavlushka； how a human being may become changed！ Once you were a good lad； and gave me no trouble； but now you are become proud indeed！〃
＇2＇ Silver five kopeck piece。
Yet let it not be inferred from this that our hero's character had grown so blase and hard； or his conscience so blunted； as to preclude his experiencing a particle of sympathy or compassion。 As a matter of fact； he was capable both of the one and the other； and would have been glad to assist his old teacher had no great sum been required； or had he not been called upon to touch the fund which he had decided should remain intact。 In other words； the father's injunction； 〃Guard and save every kopeck；〃 had become a hard and fast rule of the son's。 Yet the youth had no particular attachment to money for money's sake； he was not possessed with the true instinct for hoarding and niggardliness。 Rather； before his eyes there floated ever a vision of life and its amenities and advantagesa vision of carriages and an elegantly furnished house and recherche dinners； and it was in the hope that some day he might attain these things that he saved every kopeck and； meanwhile； stinted both himself and others。 Whenever a rich man passed him by in a splendid drozhki drawn by swift and handsomely…caparisoned horses； he would halt as though deep in thought； and say to himself； like a man awakening from a long sleep： 〃That gentleman must have been a financier； he has so little hair on his brow。〃 In short； everything connected with wealth and plenty produced upon him an ineffaceable impression。 Even when he left school he took no holiday； so strong in him was the desire to get to work and enter the Civil Service。 Yet； for all the encomiums contained in his diploma； he had much ado to procure a nomination to a Government Department； and only after a long time was a minor post found for him； at a salary of thirty or fourty roubles a year。 Nevertheless； wretched though this appointment was； he determined； by strict attention to business； to overcome all obstacles； and to win success。 And； indeed； the self…denial； the patience； and the economy which he displayed were remarkable。 From early morn until late at night he would； with indefatigable zeal of body and mind； remain immersed in his sordid task of copying official documentsnever going home； snatching what sleep he could on tables in the building； and dining with the watchman on duty。 Yet all the while he contrived to remain clean and neat； to preserve a cheerful expression of countenance； and even to cultivate a certain elegance of movement。 In passing； it may be remarked that his fellow tchinovniks were a peculiarly plain； unsightly lot； some of them having faces like badly baked bread； swollen cheeks； receding chins； and cracked and blistered upper lips。 Indeed； not a man of them was handsome。 Also； their tone of voice always contained a note of sullenness； as though they had a mind to knock some one on the head； and by their frequent sacrifices to Bacchus they showed that even yet there remains in the Slavonic nature a certain element of paganism。 Nay； the Director's room itself they would invade while still licking their lips； and since their breath was not over…aromatic； the atmosphere of the room grew not over…pleasant。 Naturally； among such an official staff a man like Chichikov could not fail to attract attention and remark； since in everythingin cheerfulness of demeanour； in suavity of voice； and in complete neglect of the use of strong potionshe was the absolute antithesis of his companions。 Yet his path was not an easy one to tread； for over him he had the misfortune to have placed in authority a Chief Clerk who was a graven image of elderly insensibility and inertia。 Always the same； always unapproachable； this functionary could never in his life have smiled or asked civilly after an acquaintance's health。 Nor had any one ever seen him a whit different in the street or at his own home from what he was in the office； or showing the least interest in anything whatever； or getting drunk and relapsing into jollity in his cups； or indulging in that species of wild gaiety which； when intoxicated； even a burglar affects。 No； not a particle of this was there in him。 Nor； for that matter； was there in him a particle of anything at all； whether good or bad： which complete negativeness of character produced rather a strange effect。 In the same way； his wizened； marble…like features reminded one of nothing in particular； so primly proportioned were they。 Only the numerous pockmarks and dimples with which they were pitted placed him among the number of those over whose faces； to quote the popular saying； 〃The Devil has walked by night to grind peas。〃 In short； it would seem that no human agency could have approached such a man and gained his goodwill。 Yet Chichikov made the effort。 As a first step； he took to consulting the other's convenience in all manner of insignificant triflesto cleaning his pens carefully； and； when they had been prepared exactly to the Chief Clerk's liking； laying them ready at his elbow； to dusting and sweeping from his table all superfluous sand and tobacco ash； to procuring a new mat for his inkstand； to looking for his hatthe meanest…looking hat that ever the world beheldand having it ready for him at the exact moment when business came to an end； to brushing his back if it happened to become smeared with whitewash from a wall。 Yet all this passed as unnoticed as though it had never been done。 Finally； Chichikov sniffed into his superior's family and domestic life； and learnt that he possessed a grown…up daughter on whose face also there had taken place a nocturnal； diabolical grinding of peas。 HERE was a quarter whence a fresh attack might be delivered！ After ascertaining what church the daughter attended on Sundays； our hero took to contriving to meet her in a neat suit and a well…starched dickey： and soon the scheme began to work。 The surly Chief Clerk wavered for a while