here Tientietnikov's mansion was situated。
〃This is where I should plant timber；〃 said Chichikov。 〃And； regarded as a site for a manor house； the situation could scarcely be beaten for beauty of view。〃
〃You seem to get great store upon views and beauty；〃 remarked Kostanzhoglo with reproof in his tone。 〃Should you pay too much attention to those things； you might find yourself without crops or view。 Utility should be placed first； not beauty。 Beauty will come of itself。 Take； for example； towns。 The fairest and most beautiful towns are those which have built themselvesthose in which each man has built to suit his own exclusive circumstances and needs； whereas towns which men have constructed on regular； string…taut lines are no better than collections of barracks。 Put beauty aside； and look only to what is NECESSARY。〃
〃Yes； but to me it would always be irksome to have to wait。 All the time that I was doing so I should be hungering to see in front of the me the sort of prospect which I prefer。〃
〃Come； come！ Are you a man of twenty…fiveyou who have served as a tchinovnik in St。 Petersburg？ Have patience； have patience。 For six years work； and work hard。 Plant； sow； and dig the earth without taking a moment's rest。 It will be difficult； I knowyes； difficult indeed； but at the end of that time； if you have thoroughly stirred the soil； the land will begin to help you as nothing else can do。 That is to say； over and above your seventy or so pairs of hands； there will begin to assist in the work seven hundred pairs of hands which you cannot see。 Thus everything will be multiplied tenfold。 I myself have ceased even to have to lift a finger； for whatsoever needs to be done gets done of itself。 Nature loves patience： always remember that。 It is a law given her of God Himself； who has blessed all those who are strong to endure。〃
〃To hear your words is to be both encouraged and strengthened；〃 said Chichikov。 To this Kostanzhoglo made no reply； but presently went on：
〃And see how that piece of land has been ploughed！ To stay here longer is more than I can do。 For me； to have to look upon such want of orderliness and foresight is death。 Finish your business with Khlobuev without me； and whatsoever you do； get this treasure out of that fool's hands as quickly as possible； for he is dishonouring God's gifts。〃
And Kostanzhoglo； his face dark with the rage that was seething in his excitable soul； left Chichikov； and caught up the owner of the establishment。
〃What； Constantine Thedorovitch？〃 cried Khlobuev in astonishment。 〃Just arrived； you are going already？〃
〃Yes； I cannot help it； urgent business requires me at home。〃 And entering his gig； Kostanzhoglo drove rapidly away。 Somehow Khlobuev seemed to divine the cause of his sudden departure。
〃It was too much for him；〃 he remarked。 〃An agriculturist of that kind does not like to have to look upon the results of such feckless management as mine。 Would you believe it； Paul Ivanovitch； but this year I have been unable to sow any wheat！ Am I not a fine husbandman？ There was no seed for the purpose； nor yet anything with which to prepare the ground。 No； I am not like Constantine Thedorovitch； who； I hear； is a perfect Napoleon in his particular line。 Again and again the thought occurs to me； 'Why has so much intellect been put into that head； and only a drop or two into my own dull pate？' Take care of that puddle； gentlemen。 I have told my peasants to lay down planks for the spring； but they have not done so。 Nevertheless my heart aches for the poor fellows； for they need a good example； and what sort of an example am I？ How am _I_ to give them orders？ Pray take them under your charge； Paul Ivanovitch； for I cannot teach them orderliness and method when I myself lack both。 As a matter of fact； I should have given them their freedom long ago； had there been any use in my doing so； for even I can see that peasants must first be afforded the means of earning a livelihood before they can live。 What they need is a stern； yet just； master who shall live with them； day in； day out； and set them an example of tireless energy。 The present…day RussianI know of it myselfis helpless without a driver。 Without one he falls asleep； and the mould grows over him。〃
〃Yet I cannot understand WHY he should fall asleep and grow mouldy in that fashion；〃 said Platon。 〃Why should he need continual surveillance to keep him from degenerating into a drunkard and a good…for…nothing？〃
〃The cause is lack of enlightenment；〃 said Chichikov。
〃Possiblyonly God knows。 Yet enlightenment has reached us right enough。 Do we not attend university lectures and everything else that is befitting？ Take my own education。 I learnt not only the usual things； but also the art of spending money upon the latest refinement； the latest amenitythe art of familiarising oneself with whatsoever money can buy。 How； then； can it be said that I was educated foolishly？ And my comrades' education was the same。 A few of them succeeded in annexing the cream of things； for the reason that they had the wit to do so； and the rest spent their time in doing their best to ruin their health and squander their money。 Often I think there is no hope for the present…day Russian。 While desiring to do everything； he accomplishes nothing。 One day he will scheme to begin a new mode of existence； a new dietary； yet before evening he will have so over…eaten himself as to be unable to speak or do aught but sit staring like an owl。 The same with every one。〃
〃Quite so；〃 agreed Chichikov with a smile。 〃'Tis everywhere the same story。〃
〃To tell the truth； we are not born to common sense。 I doubt whether Russia has ever produced a really sensible man。 For my own part； if I see my neighbour living a regular life； and making money； and saving it； I begin to distrust him； and to feel certain that in old age； if not before； he too will be led astray by the devilled astray in a moment。 Yes； whether or not we be educated； there is something we lack。 But what that something is passes my understanding。〃
On the return journey the prospect was the same as before。 Everywhere the same slovenliness； the same disorder； was displaying itself unadorned： the only difference being that a fresh puddle had formed in the middle of the village street。 This want and neglect was noticeable in the peasants' quarters equally with the quarters of the barin。 In the village a furious woman in greasy sackcloth was beating a poor young wench within an ace of her life； and at the same time devoting some third person to the care of all the devils in hell； further away a couple of peasants were stoically contemplating the viragoone scratching his rump as he did so； and the other yawning。 The same yawn was discernible in the buildings； for not a roof was there but had a gaping hole in it。 As he gazed at the scene Platon himself yawned。 Patch was superimposed upon patch； and； in place of a roof； one hut had a piece of wooden fencing； while its crumbling window…frames were stayed with sticks purloined from the barin's barn。 Evidently the system of upkeep in vogue was the system employed in the case of Trishkin's coatthe system of cutting up the cuffs and the collar into mendings for the elbows。
〃No； I do not admire your way of doing things；〃 was Chichikov's unspoken comment when the inspection had been concluded and the party had re…entered the house。 Everywhere in the latter the visitors were struck with the way in which poverty went with glittering； fashionable profusion。 On a writing…table lay a volume of Shakespeare； and； on an occasional table； a carved ivory back…scratcher。 The hostess； too； was elegantly and fashionably attired； and devoted her whole conversation to the town and the local theatre。 Lastly； the childrenbright； merry little thingswere well…dressed both as regards boys and girls。 Yet far better would it have been for them if they had been clad in plain striped smocks； and running about the courtyard like peasant children。 Presently a visitor arrived in the shape of a chattering； gossiping woman； whereupon the hostess carried her off to her own portion of the house； and； the children following them； the men found themselves alone。
〃How much do you want for the property？〃 asked Chichikov of Khlobuev。 〃I am afraid I must request you to name the lowest possible sum； since I find the estate in a far worse condition than I had expected to do。〃
〃Yes； it IS in a terrible state；〃 agreed Khlobuev。 〃Nor is that the whole of the story。 That is to say； I will not conceal from you the fact that； out of a hundred souls registered at the last revision； only fifty survive； so terrible have been the ravages of cholera。 And of these； again； some have absconded； wherefore they too must be reckoned as dead； seeing that； were one to enter process against them； the costs would end in the property having to pass en bloc to the legal authorities。 For these reasons I am asking only thirty…five thousand roubles for the estate。〃
Chichikov （it need hardly be said） started to haggle。
〃Thirty…five thousand？〃 he cried。 〃Come； come！ Surely you will accept TWENTY…five thousand？〃
This was too much for Platon's conscience。
〃Now； now； Paul Ivanovitch！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Take the proper