Only some of the ladies (as Chichikov did not fail to remark) exchanged meaning, ill-natured winks and a series of sarcastic smiles: which circumstance still further increased his confusion.

That Nozdrev was a notorious liar every one, of course, knew, and that he should have given vent to an idiotic outburst of this sort had surprised no one; but a dead soul--well, what was one to make of Nozdrev's reference to such a commodity?
Naturally this unseemly contretemps had greatly upset our hero; for, however foolish be a madman's words, they may yet prove sufficient to sow doubt in the minds of saner individuals.

He felt much as does a man who, shod with well-polished boots, has just stepped into a dirty, stinking puddle.

He tried to put away from him the occurrence, and to expand, and to enjoy himself once more.

Nay, he even took a hand at whist.