g to effect a mortgage； I desire to put no one to the risk of having to pay the two roubles on each living soul； wherefore I have conceived the idea of relieving landowners of that distasteful obligation by acquiring dead and absconded souls who have failed to disappear from the revision list。 This enables me at once to perform an act of Christian charity and to remove from the shoulders of our more impoverished proprietors the burden of tax…payment upon souls of the kind specified。 Should you yourself care to do business with me； we will draw up a formal purchase agreement as though the souls in question were still alive。〃
〃But it would be such a curious arrangement；〃 muttered Lienitsin； moving his chair and himself a little further away。 〃It would be an arrangement which； erer〃
〃Would involve you in no scandal whatever； seeing that the affair would be carried through in secret。 Moreover； between friends who are well…disposed towards one another〃
〃Nevertheless〃
Chichikov adopted a firmer and more decided tone。 〃I repeat that there would be no scandal；〃 he said。 〃The transaction would take place as between good friends； and as between friends of mature age； and as between friends of good status； and as between friends who know how to keep their own counsel。〃 And； so saying； he looked his interlocutor frankly and generously in the eyes。
Nevertheless Lienitsin's resourcefulness and acumen in business matters failed to relieve his mind of a certain perplexityand the less so since he had contrived to become caught in his own net。 Yet； in general； he possessed neither a love for nor a talent for underhand dealings； and； had not fate and circumstances favoured Chichikov by causing Lienitsin's wife to enter the room at that moment； things might have turned out very differently from what they did。 Madame was a pale； thin； insignificant…looking young lady； but none the less a lady who wore her clothes a la St。 Petersburg； and cultivated the society of persons who were unimpeachably comme il faut。 Behind her； borne in a nurse's arms； came the first fruits of the love of husband and wife。 Adopting his most telling method of approach （the method accompanied with a sidelong inclination of the head and a sort of hop）； Chichikov hastened to greet the lady from the metropolis； and then the baby。 At first the latter started to bellow disapproval； but the words 〃Agoo； agoo； my pet！〃 added to a little cracking of the fingers and a sight of a beautiful seal on a watch chain； enabled Chichikov to weedle the infant into his arms； after which he fell to swinging it up and down until he had contrived to raise a smile on its facea circumstance which greatly delighted the parents； and finally inclined the father in his visitor's favour。 Suddenly； howeverwhether from pleasure or from some other causethe infant misbehaved itself！〃
〃My God！〃 cried Madame。 〃He has gone and spoilt your frockcoat！〃
True enough； on glancing downwards； Chichikov saw that the sleeve of his brand…new garment had indeed suffered a hurt。 〃If I could catch you alone； you little devil；〃 he muttered to himself； 〃I'd shoot you！〃
Host； hostess and nurse all ran for eau…de…Cologne； and from three sides set themselves to rub the spot affected。
〃Never mind； never mind； it is nothing；〃 said Chichikov as he strove to communicate to his features as cheerful an expression as possible。 〃What does it matter what a child may spoil during the golden age of its infancy？〃
To himself he remarked： 〃The little brute！ Would it could be devoured by wolves。 It has made only too good a shot； the cussed young ragamuffin！〃
How； after thisafter the guest had shown such innocent affection for the little one； and magnanimously paid for his so doing with a brand…new suitcould the father remain obdurate？ Nevertheless； to avoid setting a bad example to the countryside； he and Chichikov agreed to carry through the transaction PRIVATELY； lest； otherwise； a scandal should arise。
〃In return；〃 said Chichikov； 〃would you mind doing me the following favour？ I desire to mediate in the matter of your difference with the Brothers Platonov。 I believe that you wish to acquire some additional land？ Is not that so？〃
Everything in life fulfils its function； and Chichikov's tour in search of a fortune was carried out so successfully that not a little money passed into his pockets。 The system employed was a good one： he did not steal； he merely used。 And every one of us at times does the same： one man with regard to Government timber； and another with regard to a sum belonging to his employer； while a third defrauds his children for the sake of an actress； and a fourth robs his peasantry for the sake of smart furniture or a carriage。 What can one do when one is surrounded on every side with roguery； and everywhere there are insanely expensive restaurants； masked balls； and dances to the music of gipsy bands？ To abstain when every one else is indulging in these things； and fashion commands； is difficult indeed！
Chichikov was for setting forth again； but the roads had now got into a bad state； and； in addition； there was in preparation a second fairone for the dvoriane only。 The former fair had been held for the sale of horses； cattle； cheese； and other peasant produce； and the buyers had been merely cattle…jobbers and kulaks； but this time the function was to be one for the sale of manorial produce which had been bought up by wholesale dealers at Nizhni Novgorod； and then transferred hither。 To the fair； of course； came those ravishers of the Russian purse who； in the shape of Frenchmen with pomades and Frenchwomen with hats； make away with money earned by blood and hard work； and； like the locusts of Egypt （to use Kostanzhoglo's term） not only devour their prey； but also dig holes in the ground and leave behind their eggs。
Although； unfortunately； the occurrence of a bad harvest retained many landowners at their country houses； the local tchinovniks （whom the failure of the harvest did NOT touch） proceeded to let themselves goas also； to their undoing； did their wives。 The reading of books of the type diffused； in these modern days； for the inoculation of humanity with a craving for new and superior amenities of life had caused every one to conceive a passion for experimenting with the latest luxury； and to meet this want the French wine merchant opened a new establishment in the shape of a restaurant as had never before been heard of in the provincea restaurant where supper could be procured on credit as regarded one…half； and for an unprecedentedly low sum as regarded the other。 This exactly suited both heads of boards and clerks who were living in hope of being able some day to resume their bribes…taking from suitors。 There also developed a tendency to compete in the matter of horses and liveried flunkeys； with the result that despite the damp and snowy weather exceedingly elegant turnouts took to parading backwards and forwards。 Whence these equipages had come God only knows； but at least they would not have disgraced St。 Petersburg。 From within them merchants and attorneys doffed their caps to ladies； and inquired after their health； and likewise it became a rare sight to see a bearded man in a rough fur cap； since every one now went about clean…shaven and with dirty teeth； after the European fashion。
〃Sir； I beg of you to inspect my goods；〃 said a tradesman as Chichikov was passing his establishment。 〃Within my doors you will find a large variety of clothing。〃
〃Have you a cloth of bilberry…coloured check？〃 inquired the person addressed。
〃I have cloths of the finest kind；〃 replied the tradesman； raising his cap with one hand； and pointing to his shop with the other。 Chichikov entered； and in a trice the proprietor had dived beneath the counter； and appeared on the other side of it； with his back to his wares and his face towards the customer。 Leaning forward on the tips of his fingers； and indicating his merchandise with just the suspicion of a nod； he requested the gentleman to specify exactly the species of cloth which he required。
〃A cloth with an olive…coloured or a bottle…tinted spot in its patternanything in the nature of bilberry；〃 explained Chichikov。
〃That being so； sir； I may say that I am about to show you clothes of a quality which even our illustrious capitals could not surpass。 Hi； boy！ Reach down that roll up therenumber 34。 No； NOT that one； fool！ Such fellows as you are always too good for your job。 Therehand it to me。 This is indeed a nice pattern！〃
Unfolding the garment； the tradesman thrust it close to Chichikov's nose in order that he might not only handle； but also smell it。
〃Excellent； but not what I want；〃 pronounced Chichikov。 〃Formerly I was in the Custom's Department； and therefore wear none but cloth of the latest make。 What I want is of a ruddier pattern than thisnot exactly a bottle…tinted pattern； but something approaching bilberry。〃
〃I understand； sir。 Of course you require only the very newest thing。 A cloth of that kind I DO possess； sir； and though excessive in price； it is of a quality to match。〃
Carrying the roll of stuff to the lighteven stepping into the street for the purposethe shopman unfolded his prize with the words； 〃A truly beautiful shade！ A cloth of smoked grey； shot with flame colour！〃
The material met with the customer's approval； a price was agreed upon； and with incredible celerity the vendor made up the purchase into a brown…paper parcel； and stowed it away in Chichikov's koliaska。
At this moment a voice asked to be shown a black frockcoat。
〃The devil take me if it isn't Khlobuev！〃 muttered our hero； turning his back upon the newcomer。 Unfortunately the other had seen him。
〃Come； come； Paul Ivanovitch！〃 he expostulated。 〃Surely you do not intend to overlook me？ I have been searching for you everywhere； for I have something important to say to you。〃
〃My dear sir； my very dear sir；〃 said Chichikov as he pressed Khlobuev's hand； 〃I can assure you that； had I the necessary leisure； I should at all times be charmed to converse with you。〃 And mentally he added： 〃Would that the Evil One would fly away with you！〃
Almost at the same time Murazov； the great landowner； entered the shop。 As he did so our