"If that is so, they might come in useful to me mused the old woman aloud; after which she sat staring at Chichikov with her mouth open and a face of nervous expectancy as to his possible rejoinder.
"Dead folk useful in a household!" he exclaimed. "Why, what could you do with them? Set them up on poles to frighten away the sparrows from your garden."
"The Lord save us, but what things you say!" she ejaculated, crossing herself.
"Well, what could you do with them? By this time they are so much bones and earth. That is all there is left of them. Their transfer to myself would be on paper only. Come, come! At least give me an answer."
Again the old woman communed with herself.
"What are you thinking of Nastasia Petrovna?" inquired Chichikov.
"I am thinking that I scarcely know what to do. Perhaps I had better sell you some hemp?"
"What do I want with hemp? Pardon me, but just when I have made to you a different proposal altogether you begin fussing about hemp! Hemp is hemp, and though I may want some when I next visit you, I should like to know what you have to say to the suggestion under discussion."
"Well, I think it a very queer bargain. Never have I heard of such a thing."
Upon this Chichikov lost all patience, upset his chair, and bid her go to the devil; of which personage even the mere mention terrified her extremely.
"Do not speak of him, I beg of you!" she cried; turning pale. "May God; rather, bless him! Last night was the third night that he has appeared to me in a dream. You see, after saying my prayers, I bethought me of telling my fortune by the cards; and God must have sent him to me as a punishment. He looked so horrible, and had horns longer than a bull's!"
"I wonder you don't see scores of devils in your dreams! Merely out of Christian charity he had come to you to say, 'I perceive a poor widow to be going to rack and ruin, and likely soon to stand in danger of want.' Well, go to rack and ruin—yes, you and all your village together!"
"The insults!" exclaimed the old woman, glancing at her visitor in terror.
"I should think so!" continued Chichikov. "Indeed, I cannot find words to describe you. To say no more about it, you are
