"That is to say, you would have seen merchant Likhachev losing a pile of money at play.
My word, you would have laughed! A fellow with me named Perependev said: 'Would that Chichikov had been here! It would have been the very thing for him!'" (As a matter of fact, never since the day of his birth had Nozdrev met any one of the name of Perependev.) "However, my friend, you must admit that you treated me rather badly the day that we played that game of chess; but, as I won the game, I bear you no malice.

A propos, I am just from the President's, and ought to tell you that the feeling against you in the town is very strong, for every one believes you to be a forger of currency notes.

I myself was sent for and questioned about you, but I stuck up for you through thick and thin, and told the tchinovniks that I had been at school with you, and had known your father.

In fact, I gave the fellows a knock or two for themselves." "You say that I am believed to be a forger ?" said Chichikov, starting from his seat.
"Yes," said Nozdrev.

"Why have you gone and frightened everybody as you have done?
Some of our folk are almost out of their minds about it, and declare you to be either a brigand in disguise or a spy.