On sighting him in the distance, Chichikov at once decided to sacrifice himself.

That is to say, he decided to vacate his present enviable position and make off with all possible speed, since he could see that an encounter with the newcomer would do him no good.

Unfortunately at that moment the Governor buttonholed him with a request that he would come and act as arbiter between him (the Governor) and two ladies--the subject of dispute being the question as to whether or not woman's love is lasting.
Simultaneously Nozdrev descried our hero and bore down upon him.
"Ah, my fine landowner of Kherson!" he cried with a smile which set his fresh, spring-rose-pink cheeks a-quiver.

"Have you been doing much trade in departed souls lately ?" With that he turned to the Governor.

"I suppose your Excellency knows that this man traffics in dead peasants ?" he bawled.