this expression of paternal feeling uttered； Kifa Mokievitch left Moki Kifovitch to his heroic exploits； and himself returned to his beloved subject of speculation； which now included also the problem； 〃Suppose elephants were to take to being hatched from eggs； would not the shell of such eggs be of a thickness proof against cannonballs； and necessitate the invention of some new type of firearm？〃 Thus at the end of this little story we have these two denizens of a peaceful corner of Russia looking thence； as from a window； in less terror of doing what was scandalous than of having it SAID of them that they were acting scandalously。 Yes； the feeling animating our so…called 〃patriots〃 is not true patriotism at all。 Something else lies beneath it。 Who； if not an author； is to speak aloud the truth？ Men like you； my pseudo…patriots； stand in dread of the eye which is able to discern； yet shrink from using your own； and prefer； rather； to glance at everything unheedingly。 Yes； after laughing heartily over Chichikov's misadventures； and perhaps even commending the author for his dexterity of observation and pretty turn of wit； you will look at yourselves with redoubled pride and a self…satisfied smile； and add： 〃Well； we agree that in certain parts of the provinces there exists strange and ridiculous individuals； as well as unconscionable rascals。〃
Yet which of you； when quiet； and alone； and engaged in solitary self…communion； would not do well to probe YOUR OWN souls； and to put to YOURSELVES the solemn question； 〃Is there not in ME an element of Chichikov？〃 For how should there not be？ Which of you is not liable at any moment to be passed in the street by an acquaintance who； nudging his neighbour； may say of you； with a barely suppressed sneer： 〃Look！ there goes Chichikov！ That is Chichikov who has just gone by！〃
But here are we talking at the top of our voices whilst all the time our hero lies slumbering in his britchka！ Indeed； his name has been repeated so often during the recital of his life's history that he must almost have heard us！ And at any time he is an irritable； irascible fellow when spoken of with disrespect。 True； to the reader Chichikov's displeasure cannot matter a jot； but for the author it would mean ruin to quarrel with his hero； seeing that； arm in arm； Chichikov and he have yet far to go。
〃Tut； tut； tut！〃 came in a shout from Chichikov。 〃Hi； Selifan！〃
〃What is it？〃 came the reply； uttered with a drawl。
〃What is it？ Why； how dare you drive like that？ Come！ Bestir yourself a little！〃
And indeed； Selifan had long been sitting with half…closed eyes； and hands which bestowed no encouragement upon his somnolent steeds save an occasional flicking of the reins against their flanks； whilst Petrushka had lost his cap； and was leaning backwards until his head had come to rest against Chichikov's kneesa position which necessitated his being awakened with a cuff。 Selifan also roused himself； and apportioned to the skewbald a few cuts across the back of a kind which at least had the effect of inciting that animal to trot； and when； presently； the other two horses followed their companion's example； the light britchka moved forwards like a piece of thistledown。 Selifan flourished his whip and shouted； 〃Hi； hi！〃 as the inequalities of the road jerked him vertically on his seat； and meanwhile； reclining against the leather cushions of the vehicle's interior； Chichikov smiled with gratification at the sensation of driving fast。 For what Russian does not love to drive fast？ Which of us does not at times yearn to give his horses their head； and to let them go； and to cry； 〃To the devil with the world！〃？ At such moments a great force seems to uplift one as on wings； and one flies； and everything else flies； but contrariwiseboth the verst stones； and traders riding on the shafts of their waggons； and the forest with dark lines of spruce and fir amid which may be heard the axe of the woodcutter and the croaking of the raven。 Yes； out of a dim； remote distance the road comes towards one； and while nothing save the sky and the light clouds through which the moon is cleaving her way seem halted； the brief glimpses wherein one can discern nothing clearly have in them a pervading touch of mystery。 Ah； troika； troika； swift as a bird； who was it first invented you？ Only among a hardy race of folk can you have come to birthonly in a land which； though poor and rough； lies spread over half the world； and spans versts the counting whereof would leave one with aching eyes。 Nor are you a modishly…fashioned vehicle of the roada thing of clamps and iron。 Rather； you are a vehicle but shapen and fitted with the axe or chisel of some handy peasant of Yaroslav。 Nor are you driven by a coachman clothed in German livery； but by a man bearded and mittened。 See him as he mounts； and flourishes his whip； and breaks into a long…drawn song！ Away like the wind go the horses； and the wheels； with their spokes； become transparent circles； and the road seems to quiver beneath them； and a pedestrian； with a cry of astonishment； halts to watch the vehicle as it flies； flies； flies on its way until it becomes lost on the ultimate horizona speck amid a cloud of dust！
And you； Russia of mineare not you also speeding like a troika which nought can overtake？ Is not the road smoking beneath your wheels； and the bridges thundering as you cross them； and everything being left in the rear； and the spectators； struck with the portent； halting to wonder whether you be not a thunderbolt launched from heaven？ What does that awe…inspiring progress of yours foretell？ What is the unknown force which lies within your mysterious steeds？ Surely the winds themselves must abide in their manes； and every vein in their bodies be an ear stretched to catch the celestial message which bids them； with iron…girded breasts； and hooves which barely touch the earth as they gallop； fly forward on a mission of God？ Whither； then； are you speeding； O Russia of mine？ Whither？ Answer me！ But no answer comesonly the weird sound of your collar…bells。 Rent into a thousand shreds； the air roars past you； for you are overtaking the whole world； and shall one day force all nations； all empires to stand aside； to give you way！
1841。
PART II
CHAPTER I
Why do I so persistently paint the poverty； the imperfections of Russian life； and delve into the remotest depths； the most retired holes and corners； of our Empire for my subjects？ The answer is that there is nothing else to be done when an author's idiosyncrasy happens to incline him that way。 So again we find ourselves in a retired spot。 But what a spot！
Imagine； if you can； a mountain range like a gigantic fortress； with embrasures and bastions which appear to soar a thousand versts towards the heights of heaven； and； towering grandly over a boundless expanse of plain； are broken up into precipitous； overhanging limestone cliffs。 Here and there those cliffs are seamed with water…courses and gullies； while at other points they are rounded off into spurs of greenspurs now coated with fleece…like tufts of young undergrowth； now studded with the stumps of felled trees； now covered with timber which has； by some miracle； escaped the woodman's axe。 Also； a river winds awhile between its banks； then leaves the meadow land； divides into runlets （all flashing in the sun like fire）； plunges； re…united； into the midst of a thicket of elder； birth； and pine； and； lastly； speeds triumphantly past bridges and mills and weirs which seem to be lying in wait for it at every turn。
At one particular spot the steep flank of the mountain range is covered with billowy verdure of denser growth than the rest； and here the aid of skilful planting； added to the shelter afforded by a rugged ravine； has enabled the flora of north and south so to be brought together that； twined about with sinuous hop…tendrils； the oak； the spruce fir； the wild pear； the maple； the cherry； the thorn； and the mountain ash either assist or check one another's growth； and everywhere cover the declivity with their straggling profusion。 Also； at the edge of the summit there can be seen mingling with the green of the trees the red roofs of a manorial homestead； while behind the upper stories of the mansion proper and its carved balcony and a great semi…circular window there gleam the tiles and gables of some peasants' huts。 Lastly； over this combination of trees and roofs there risesovertopping everything with its gilded； sparkling steeplean old village church。 On each of its pinnacles a cross of carved gilt is stayed with supports of similar gilding and design； with the result that from a distance the gilded portions have the effect of hanging without visible agency in the air。 And the wholethe three successive tiers of woodland； roofs； and crosses wholelies exquisitely mirrored in the river below； where hollow willows； grotesquely shaped （some of them rooted on the river's banks； and some in the water itself； and all drooping their branches until their leaves have formed a tangle with the water lilies which float on the surface）； seem to be gazing at the marvellous reflection at their feet。
Thus the view from below is beautiful indeed。 But the view from above is even better。 No guest； no visitor； could stand on the balcony of the mansion and remain indifferent。 So boundless is the panorama revealed that surprise would cause him to catch at his breath； and exclaim： 〃Lord of Heaven； but what a prospect！〃 Beyond meadows studded with spinneys and water…mills lie forests belted with green； while beyond； again； there can be seen showing through the slightly misty air strips of yellow heath； and； again； wide…rolling forests （as blue as the sea or a cloud）； and more heath； paler than the first； but still yellow。 Finally； on the far horizon a range of chalk…topped hills gleams white； even in dull weather； as though it were lightened with perpetual sunshine； and here and there on the dazzling whiteness of its lower slopes some plaster…like； nebulous patches represent far…off villages which lie too remote for the eye to discern their details。 Indeed； only when the sunlight touches a steeple to gold does one