“No，Idonotadmireyourwayofdoingthings，“wasChichikov\'sunspokencommentwhentheinspectionhadbeenconcludedandthepartyhadre-enteredthehouse。Everywhereinthelatterthevisitorswerestruckwiththewayinwhichpovertywentwithglittering，fashionableprofusion。Onawriting-tablelayavolumeofShakespeare，and，onanoccasionaltable，acarvedivoryback-scratcher。Thehostess，too，waselegantlyandfashionablyattired，anddevotedherwholeconversationtothetownandthelocaltheatre。Lastly，thechildren——bright，merrylittlethings——werewell-dressedbothasregardsboysandgirls。Yetfarbetterwouldithavebeenforthemiftheyhadbeencladinplainstripedsmocks，andrunningaboutthecourtyardlikepeasantchildren。
Presentlyavisitorarrivedintheshapeofachattering，gossipingwoman；whereuponthehostesscarriedherofftoherownportionofthehouse，and，thechildrenfollowingthem，themenfoundthemselvesalone。
“Howmuchdoyouwantfortheproperty？”askedChichikovofKhlobuev。
“IamafraidImustrequestyoutonamethelowestpossiblesum，sinceIfindtheestateinafarworseconditionthanIhadexpectedtodo。“
“Yes，itISinaterriblestate，“agreedKhlobuev。“Noristhatthewholeofthestory。Thatistosay，Iwillnotconcealfromyouthefactthat，outofahundredsoulsregisteredatthelastrevision，onlyfiftysurvive，soterriblehavebeentheravagesofcholera。Andofthese，again，somehaveabsconded；whereforetheytoomustbereckonedasdead，seeingthat，wereonetoenterprocessagainstthem，thecostswouldendinthepropertyhavingtopassenbloctothelegalauthorities。ForthesereasonsIamaskingonlythirty-fivethousandroublesfortheestate。“