easy to put into words. True enough, Manilov was now destined to hear such strange and unexpected things as never before had greeted human ears.
"You ask me" said Chichikov, "for what purpose I want the list. Well, my purpose in wanting it is this—that I desire to purchase a few peasants." And he broke off with a gulp.
"But may I ask how you desire to purchase those peasants?" asked Manilov. "With land, or merely as souls for transferment—that is to say, by themselves, and without any land?"
"I want the peasants themselves only" replied Chichikov. "And I want dead ones at that."
"What?--- Excuse me, but I am a trifle deaf. Really, your words sound most strange!"
"All that I am proposing to do." replied Chichikov, "is to purchase the dead peasants who, at the last census, were returned by you as alive."
Manilov dropped his pipe upon the floor, and sat gaping. Yes, the two friends who had just been discussing the joys of camaraderie sat staring at one another like the portraits which, of old, used to hang on opposite sides of a mirror. At length Manilov picked up his pipe, and, while doing so, glanced covertly at Chichikov to see whether there was any trace of a smile to be detected on his lips—whether, in short, he was joking. But nothing of the sort could be discerned. On the contrary, Chichikov's face looked even graver than usual. Next, Manilov wondered whether, for some unknown reason, his guest had lost his wits; wherefore he spent some time in gazing at him with anxious intentness. But the guest's eyes seemed clear—they contained no spark of the wild, restless fire which is apt to wander in the eyes of madmen. All was as it should be. Consequently, in spite of Manilov's cogitations, he could think of nothing better to do than to sit letting a stream of tobacco smoke escape from his mouth.
"So," continued Chichikov, "what I desire to know is whether you are willing to hand over to me—to resign—these actually non-living, but legally living, peasants; or whether you have any better proposal to make?"
Manilov felt too confused and confounded to do aught but continue staring at his interlocutor.
"I think that you are disturbing yourself unnecessarily," was Chichikov's next remark.
"I? Oh no! Not at all!" stammered Manilov. "Only-pardon me—I do not quite comprehend you. You see, never
