Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol2.djvu/169



'No,' thought Tchitchikov, when he found himself once more in the midst of fields and open country, 'as soon as I get it all done satisfactorily and really become a man of means and property, I shall not manage things like that. I will have a good cook and a house well provided in every way, but it shall all be managed properly too. I shall make both ends meet and little by little I shall lay by a sum for my children if only, please God, my wife brings me offspring. … Hey, you great stupid!'

Selifan and Petrushka both looked round from the box.

'Where are you driving to?'

'Why, as you were pleased to tell us yourself, Pavel Ivanovitch—to Colonel Koshkaryov's,' said Selifan.

'And did you inquire the way?'

'Why, Pavel Ivanovitch, as your honour can see for yourself, since I was busy looking after the carriage all the while, well … I saw nothing but the general's stable, but Petrushka inquired of the coachman.'

'Well, you are a fool! You have been told not to rely upon Petrushka: Petrushka's a blockhead.' 159