Why, it was Staff-Captain Potsieluev and Lieutenant Kuvshinnikov!" "Yes," though Chichikov to himself, "and I wish that they too would give you a public thrashing!" "I felt so ill!" went on Nozdrev.

"And just after I had fallen asleep something DID come and sting me.

Probably it was a party of hag fleas.
Now, dress yourself, and I will be with you presently.

First of all I must give that scoundrel of a bailiff a wigging." Chichikov departed to his own room to wash and dress; which process completed, he entered the dining-room to find the table laid with tea-things and a bottle of rum.

Clearly no broom had yet touched the place, for there remained traces of the previous night's dinner and supper in the shape of crumbs thrown over the floor and tobacco ash on the tablecloth.