16/52 Who is he ?" "Another landed proprietor, madam." "Well, neither have I heard of him. No such landowner lives hereabouts." "Then who ARE your local landowners ?" "Bobrov, Svinin, Kanapatiev, Khapakin, Trepakin, and Plieshakov." "Are they rich men ?" "No, none of them. One of them may own twenty souls, and another thirty, but of gentry who own a hundred there are none." Chichikov reflected that he had indeed fallen into an aristocratic wilderness! "At all events, is the town far away ?" he inquired. How sorry I am that I have nothing for you to eat! Should you care to drink some tea ?" "I thank you, good mother, but I require nothing beyond a bed." "Well, after such a journey you must indeed be needing rest, so you shall lie upon this sofa. Fetinia, bring a quilt and some pillows and sheets. |