Beside himself with rage, he prepared to give Selifan the wigging of his life, and, meanwhile, waited impatiently to hear what the delinquent had got to say in his defence.

It goes without saying that when Selifan made his appearance in the doorway he had only the usual excuses to offer--the sort of excuses usually offered by servants when a hasty departure has become imperatively necessary.
"Paul Ivanovitch," he said, "the horses require shoeing." "Blockhead!" exclaimed Chichikov.

"Why did you not tell me of that before, you damned fool?
Was there not time enough for them to be shod ?" "Yes, I suppose there was," agreed Selifan.

"Also one of the wheels is in want of a new tyre, for the roads are so rough that the old tyre is worn through.

Also, the body of the britchka is so rickety that probably it will not last more than a couple of stages." "Rascal!" shouted Chichikov, clenching his fists and approaching Selifan in such a manner that, fearing to receive a blow, the man backed and dodged aside.