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h of life which those emotions might have imparted was wanting。 The face was； as it were； dreaming； even though from time to time an ironical smile disturbed it。
〃I； too； cannot understand；〃 remarked Chichikov； 〃how a man of your appearance can find things wearisome。 Of course； if a man is hard pressed for money； or if he has enemies who are lying in wait for his life （as have certain folk of whom I know）； well； then〃
〃Believe me when I say；〃 interrupted the handsome guest； 〃that； for the sake of a diversion； I should be glad of ANY sort of an anxiety。 Would that some enemy would conceive a grudge against me！ But no one does so。 Everything remains eternally dull。〃
〃But perhaps you lack a sufficiency of land or souls？〃
〃Not at all。 I and my brother own ten thousand desiatins＇4＇ of land； and over a thousand souls。〃
＇4＇ The desiatin = 2。86 English acres。
〃Curious！ I do not understand it。 But perhaps the harvest has failed； or you have sickness about； and many of your male peasants have died of it？〃
〃On the contrary； everything is in splendid order； for my brother is the best of managers。〃
〃Then to find things wearisome！〃 exclaimed Chichikov。 〃It passes my comprehension。〃 And he shrugged his shoulders。
〃Well； we will soon put weariness to flight；〃 interrupted the host。 〃Aleksasha； do you run helter…skelter to the kitchen； and there tell the cook to serve the fish pasties。 Yes； and where have that gawk of an Emelian and that thief of an Antoshka got to？ Why have they not handed round the zakuski？〃
At this moment the door opened； and the 〃gawk〃 and the 〃thief〃 in question made their appearance with napkins and a traythe latter bearing six decanters of variously…coloured beverages。 These they placed upon the table； and then ringed them about with glasses and platefuls of every conceivable kind of appetiser。 That done； the servants applied themselves to bringing in various comestibles under covers； through which could be heard the hissing of hot roast viands。 In particular did the 〃gawk〃 and the 〃thief〃 work hard at their tasks。 As a matter of fact； their appellations had been given them merely to spur them to greater activity； for； in general； the barin was no lover of abuse； but； rather； a kind…hearted man who； like most Russians； could not get on without a sharp word or two。 That is to say； he needed them for his tongue as he need a glass of vodka for his digestion。 What else could you expect？ It was his nature to care for nothing mild。
To the zakuski succeeded the meal itself； and the host became a perfect glutton on his guests' behalf。 Should he notice that a guest had taken but a single piece of a comestible； he added thereto another one； saying： 〃Without a mate； neither man nor bird can live in this world。〃 Should any one take two pieces； he added thereto a third； saying： 〃What is the good of the number 2？ God loves a trinity。〃 Should any one take three pieces； he would say： 〃Where do you see a waggon with three wheels？ Who builds a three…cornered hut？〃 Lastly； should any one take four pieces； he would cap them with a fifth； and add thereto the punning quip； 〃Na piat opiat＇5＇〃。 After devouring at least twelve steaks of sturgeon； Chichikov ventured to think to himself； 〃My host cannot possibly add to THEM；〃 but found that he was mistaken； for； without a word； Pietukh heaped upon his plate an enormous portion of spit…roasted veal； and also some kidneys。 And what veal it was！
＇5＇ 〃One more makes five。〃
〃That calf was fed two years on milk；〃 he explained。 〃I cared for it like my own son。〃
〃Nevertheless I can eat no more；〃 said Chichikov。
〃Do you try the veal before you say that you can eat no more。〃
〃But I could not get it down my throat。 There is no room left。〃
〃If there be no room in a church for a newcomer； the beadle is sent for； and room is very soon madeyes； even though before there was such a crush that an apple couldn't have been dropped between the people。 Do you try the veal； I say。 That piece is the titbit of all。〃
So Chichikov made the attempt； and in very truth the veal was beyond all praise； and room was found for it； even though one would have supposed the feat impossible。
〃Fancy this good fellow removing to St。 Petersburg or Moscow！〃 said the guest to himself。 〃Why； with a scale of living like this； he would be ruined in three years。〃 For that matter； Pietukh might well have been ruined already； for hospitality can dissipate a fortune in three months as easily as it can in three years。
The host also dispensed the wine with a lavish hand； and what the guests did not drink he gave to his sons； who thus swallowed glass after glass。 Indeed； even before coming to table； it was possible to discern to what department of human accomplishment their bent was turned。 When the meal was over； however； the guests had no mind for further drinking。 Indeed； it was all that they could do to drag themselves on to the balcony； and there to relapse into easy chairs。 Indeed； the moment that the host subsided into his seatit was large enough for fourhe fell asleep； and his portly presence； converting itself into a sort of blacksmith's bellows； started to vent； through open mouth and distended nostrils； such sounds as can have greeted the reader's ear but seldomsounds as of a drum being beaten in combination with the whistling of a flute and the strident howling of a dog。
〃Listen to him！〃 said Platon。
Chichikov smiled。
〃Naturally； on such dinners as that；〃 continued the other； 〃our host does NOT find the time dull。 And as soon as dinner is ended there can ensue sleep。〃
〃Yes； but； pardon me； I still fail to understand why you should find life wearisome。 There are so many resources against ennui！〃
〃As for instance？〃
〃For a young man； dancing； the playing of one or another musical instrument； andwell； yes； marriage。〃
〃Marriage to whom？〃
〃To some maiden who is both charming and rich。 Are there none in these parts？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then； were I you； I should travel； and seek a maiden elsewhere。〃 And a brilliant idea therewith entered Chichikov's head。 〃This last resource；〃 he added； 〃is the best of all resources against ennui。〃
〃What resource are you speaking of？〃
〃Of travel。〃
〃But whither？〃
〃Well； should it so please you； you might join me as my companion。〃 This said； the speaker added to himself as he eyed Platon： 〃Yes； that would suit me exactly； for then I should have half my expenses paid； and could charge him also with the cost of mending the koliaska。〃
〃And whither should we go？〃
〃In that respect I am not wholly my own master； as I have business to do for others as well as for myself。 For instance； General Betristchevan intimate friend and； I might add； a generous benefactor of minehas charged me with commissions to certain of his relatives。 However； though relatives are relatives； I am travelling likewise on my own account； since I wish to see the world and the whirligig of humanitywhich； in spite of what people may say； is as good as a living book or a second education。〃 As a matter of fact； Chichikov was reflecting； 〃Yes； the plan is an excellent one。 I might even contrive that he should have to bear the whole of our expenses； and that his h