Chapter 3

           Meanwhile,Chichikov,seatedinhisbritchkaandbowlingalongtheturnpike,wasfeelinggreatlypleasedwithhimself.Fromtheprecedingchapterthereaderwillhavegatheredtheprincipalsubjectofhisbentandinclinations:whereforeitisnomatterforwonderthathisbodyandhissoulhadendedbybecomingwhollyimmersedtherein.Toallappearancesthethoughts,thecalculations,andtheprojectswhichwerenowreflectedinhisfacepartookofapleasantnature,sincemomentarilytheykeptleavingbehindthemasatisfiedsmile.Indeed,soengrossedwashethathenevernoticedthathiscoachman,elatedwiththehospitalityofManilov’sdomestics,wasmakingremarksofadidacticnaturetotheoffhorseofthetroika11,askewbald.Thisskewbaldwasaknowinganimal,andmadeonlyashowofpulling;whereasitscomrades,themiddlehorse(abay,andknownastheAssessor,owingtohishavingbeenacquiredfromagentlemanofthatrank)andthenearhorse(aroan),woulddotheirworkgallantly,andevenevinceintheireyesthepleasurewhichtheyderivedfromtheirexertions.

           “Ah,yourascal,yourascal!I’llgetthebetterofyou!”ejaculatedSelifanashesatupandgavethelazyoneacutwithhiswhip.“YOUknowyourbusinessallright,youGermanpantaloon!Thebayisagoodfellow,anddoeshisduty,andIwillgivehimabitoverhisfeed,forheisahorsetoberespected;andtheAssessortooisagoodhorse.ButwhatareYOUshakingyourearsfor?Youareafool,sojustmindwhenyou’respokento.‘TisgoodadviceI’mgivingyou,youblockhead.Ah!YouCANtravelwhenyoulike.