Apparently the master of the house was himself a man of health and strength, and therefore liked to have his apartments adorned with none but folk of equal vigour and robustness.

Lastly, in the window, and suspected cheek by jowl with Bobelina, there hung a cage whence at intervals there peered forth a white-spotted blackbird.
Like everything else in the apartment, it bore a strong resemblance to Sobakevitch.

When host and guest had been conversing for two minutes or so the door opened, and there entered the hostess--a tall lady in a cap adorned with ribands of domestic colouring and manufacture.

She entered deliberately, and held her head as erect as a palm.
"This is my wife, Theodulia Ivanovna," said Sobakevitch.
Chichikov approached and took her hand.

The fact that she raised it nearly to the level of his lips apprised him of the circumstance that it had just been rinsed in cucumber oil.
"My dear, allow me to introduce Paul Ivanovitch Chichikov," added Sobakevitch.