Any other rascal than myself would have cheated you by selling you old rubbish instead of good, genuine souls, whereas I should be ready to give you of my best, even were you buying only nut-kernels.

For instance, look at wheelwright Michiev.

Never was there such a one to build spring carts! And his handiwork was not like your Moscow handiwork--good only for an hour.

No, he did it all himself, even down to the varnishing." Chichikov opened his mouth to remark that, nevertheless, the said Michiev had long since departed this world; but Sobakevitch's eloquence had got too thoroughly into its stride to admit of any interruption.
"And look, too, at Probka Stepan, the carpenter," his host went on.

"I will wager my head that nowhere else would you find such a workman.