would raise； as from a nightingale's throat； the opening staves of a boat song； and then be joined by five or six more； until the melody had come to pour forth in a volume as free and boundless as Russia herself。 And Pietukh； too； would give himself a shake； and help lustily to support the chorus； and even Chichikov felt acutely conscious of the fact that he was a Russian。 Only Platon reflected： 〃What is there so splendid in these melancholy songs？ They do but increase one's depression of spirits。〃
The journey homeward was made in the gathering dusk。 Rhythmically the oars smote a surface which no longer reflected the sky； and darkness had fallen when they reached the shore； along which lights were twinkling where the fisherfolk were boiling live eels for soup。 Everything had now wended its way homeward for the night； the cattle and poultry had been housed； and the herdsmen； standing at the gates of the village cattle…pens； amid the trailing dust lately raised by their charges； were awaiting the milk…pails and a summons to partake of the eel…broth。 Through the dusk came the hum of humankind； and the barking of dogs in other and more distant villages； while； over all； the moon was rising； and the darkened countryside was beginning to glimmer to light again under her beams。 What a glorious picture！ Yet no one thought of admiring it。 Instead of galloping over the countryside on frisky cobs； Nikolasha and Aleksasha were engaged in dreaming of Moscow； with its confectioners' shops and the theatres of which a cadet； newly arrived on a visit from the capital； had just been telling them； while their father had his mind full of how best to stuff his guests with yet more food； and Platon was given up to yawning。 Only in Chichikov was a spice of animation visible。 〃Yes；〃 he reflected； 〃some day I； too； will become lord of such a country place。〃 And before his mind's eye there arose also a helpmeet and some little Chichikovs。
By the time that supper was finished the party had again over…eaten themselves； and when Chichikov entered the room allotted him for the night； he lay down upon the bed； and prodded his stomach。 〃It is as tight as a drum；〃 he said to himself。 〃Not another titbit of veal could now get into it。〃 Also； circumstances had so brought it about that next door to him there was situated his host's apartment； and since the intervening wall was thin； Chichikov could hear every word that was said there。 At the present moment the master of the house was engaged in giving the cook orders for what； under the guise of an early breakfast； promised to constitute a veritable dinner。 You should have heard Pietukh's behests！ They would have excited the appetite of a corpse。
〃Yes；〃 he said； sucking his lips； and drawing a deep breath； 〃in the first place； make a pasty in four divisions。 Into one of the divisions put the sturgeon's cheeks and some viaziga＇6＇； and into another division some buckwheat porridge； young mushrooms and onions； sweet milk； calves' brains； and anything else that you may find suitableanything else that you may have got handy。 Also； bake the pastry to a nice brown on one side； and but lightly on the other。 Yes； and； as to the under side； bake it so that it will be all juicy and flaky； so that it shall not crumble into bits； but melt in the mouth like the softest snow that ever you heard of。〃 And as he said this Pietukh fairly smacked his lips。
＇6＇ Dried spinal marrow of the sturgeon。
〃The devil take him！〃 muttered Chichikov； thrusting his head beneath the bedclothes to avoid hearing more。 〃The fellow won't give one a chance to sleep。〃
Nevertheless he heard through the blankets：
〃And garnish the sturgeon with beetroot； smelts； peppered mushrooms； young radishes； carrots； beans； and anything else you like； so as to have plenty of trimmings。 Yes； and put a lump of ice into the pig's bladder； so as to swell it up。〃
Many other dishes did Pietukh order； and nothing was to be heard but his talk of boiling； roasting； and stewing。 Finally； just as mention was being made of a turkey cock； Chichikov fell asleep。
Next morning the guest's state of repletion had reached the point of Platon being unable to mount his horse； wherefore the latter was dispatched homeward with one of Pietukh's grooms； and the two guests entered Chichikov's koliaska。 Even the dog trotted lazily in the rear； for he； too； had over…eaten himself。
〃It has been rather too much of a good thing；〃 remarked Chichikov as the vehicle issued from the courtyard。
〃Yes； and it vexes me to see the fellow never tire of it；〃 replied Platon。
〃Ah；〃 thought Chichikov to himself； 〃if _I_ had an income of seventy thousand roubles； as you have； I'd very soon give tiredness one in the eye！ Take Murazov； the tax…farmerhe； again； must be worth ten millions。 What a fortune！〃
〃Do you mind where we drive？〃 asked Platon。 〃I should like first to go and take leave of my sister and my brother…in…law。〃
〃With pleasure；〃 said Chichikov。
〃My brother…in…law is the leading landowner hereabouts。 At the present moment he is drawing an income of two hundred thousand roubles from a property which； eight years ago； was producing a bare twenty thousand。〃
〃Truly a man worthy of the utmost respect！ I shall be most interested to make his acquaintance。 To think of it！ And what may his family name be？〃
〃Kostanzhoglo。〃
〃And his Christian name and patronymic？〃
〃Constantine Thedorovitch。〃
〃Constantine Thedorovitch Kostanzhoglo。 Yes； it will be a most interesting event to make his acquaintance。 To know such a man must be a whole education。〃
Here Platon set himself to give Selifan some directions as to the way； a necessary proceeding in view of the fact that Selifan could hardly maintain his seat on the box。 Twice Petrushka； too； had fallen headlong； and this necessitated being tied to his perch with a piece of rope。 〃What a clown！〃 had been Chichikov's only comment。
〃This is where my brother…in…law's land begins；〃 said Platon。
〃They give one a change of view。〃
And； indeed； from this point the countryside became planted with timber； the rows of trees running as straight as pistol…shots； and having beyond them； and on higher ground； a second expanse of forest； newly planted like the first； while beyond it； again； loomed a third plantation of older trees。 Next there succeeded a flat piece of the same nature。
〃All this timber；〃 said Platon； 〃has grown up within eight or ten years at the most； whereas on another man's land it would have taken twenty to attain the same growth。〃
〃And how has your brother…in…law effected this？〃
〃You must ask him yourself。 He is so excellent a husbandman that nothing ever fails with him。 You see； he knows the soil； and also knows what ought to be planted beside what； and what kinds of timber are the best neighbourhood for grain。 Again； everything on his estate is made to perform at least three or four different functions。 For instance； he makes his timber not only serve as timber； but also serve as a provider of moisture and shade to a given stretch of land； and then as a fertiliser with its fallen leaves。 Consequently； when everywhere else there is drought； he still has water； and when everywhere else there has been a failure of the harvest； on his lands it will have proved a success。 But it is a pity that I know so little about it all as to be unable to explain to you his many expedients。 Folk call him a wizard； for he produces so much。 Nevertheless； personally I find what he does uninteresting。〃
〃Truly an astonishing fellow！〃 reflected Chichikov with a glance at his companion。 〃It is sad indeed to see a man so superficial as to be unable to explain matters of this kind。〃
At length the manor appeared in sightan establishment looking almost like a town； so numerous were the huts where they stood arranged in three tiers； crowned with three churches； and surrounded with huge ricks and barns。 〃Yes；〃 thought Chichikov to himself； 〃one can see what a jewel of a landowner lives here。〃 The huts in question were stoutly built and the intervening alleys well laid…out； while； wherever a waggon was visible； it looked serviceable and more or less new。 Also； the local peasants bore an intelligent look on their faces； the cattle were of the best possible breed； and even the peasants' pigs belonged to the porcine aristocracy。 Clearly there dwelt here peasants who； to quote the song； were accustomed to 〃pick up silver by the shovelful。〃 Nor were Englishified gardens and parterres and other conceits in evidence； but； on the contrary； there ran an open view from the manor house to the farm buildings and the workmen's cots； so that； after the old Russian fashion； the barin should be able to keep an eye upon all that was going on around him。 For the same purpose； the mansion was topped with a tall lantern and a superstructurea device designed； not for ornament； nor for a vantage…spot for the contemplation of the view； but for supervision of the labourers engaged in distant fields。 Lastly； the brisk； active servants who received the visitors on the verandah were very different menials from the drunken Petrushka； even though they did not wear swallow…tailed coats； but only Cossack tchekmenu＇7＇ of blue homespun cloth。
＇7＇ Long； belted Tartar blouses。
The lady of the house also issued on to the verandah。 With her face of the freshness of 〃blood and milk〃 and the brightness of God's daylight； she as nearly resembled Platon as one pea resembles another； save that； whereas he was languid； she was cheerful and full of talk。
〃Good day； brother！〃 she cried。 〃How glad I am to see you！ Constantine is not at home； but will be back presently。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃Doing business in the village with a party of factors；〃 replied the lady as she conducted her guests to the drawing…room。
With no little curiosity did Chichikov gaze at the interior of the mansion inhabited by the man who received an annual income of two hundred thousand roubles； for he thought to discern therefrom the nature of its proprietor； even as from a shell one may deduce the species of oyster or snail which has been its tenant； and has left therein its impression。 But no such conclusions were to be drawn。 The rooms were simple； and even bare。 Not a fresco nor a pictu