"Do you mean to ruin me, and to break all our bones on the road, you cursed idiot?
For these three weeks past you have been doing nothing at all; yet now, at the last moment, you come here stammering and playing the fool! Do you think I keep you just to eat and to drive yourself about?
You must have known of this before?
Did you, or did you not, know it?
Answer me at once." "Yes, I did know it," replied Selifan, hanging his head.
"Then why didn't you tell me about it ?" Selifan had no reply immediately ready, so continued to hang his head while quietly saying to himself: "See how well I have managed things! I knew what was the matter, yet I did not say." "And now," continued Chichikov, "go you at once and fetch a blacksmith.
Tell him that everything must be put right within two hours at the most.
Do you hear?
If that should not be done, I, I--I will give you the best flogging that ever you had in your life." Truly Chichikov was almost beside himself with fury.
Turning towards the door, as though for the purpose of going and carrying out his orders, Selifan halted and added: "That skewbald, barin--you might think it well to sell him, seeing that he is nothing but a rascal?
A horse like that is more of a hindrance than a help." "What?
Do you expect me to go NOW to the market-place and sell him ?" "Well, Paul Ivanovitch, he is good for nothing but show, since by nature he is a most cunning beast.

Never in my life have I seen such a horse." "Fool! Whenever I may wish to sell him I SHALL sell him.

Meanwhile, don't you trouble your head about what doesn't concern you, but go and fetch a blacksmith, and see that everything is put right within two hours.

Otherwise I will take the very hair off your head, and beat you till you haven't a face left.

Be off! Hurry!" Selifan departed, and Chichikov, his ill-humour vented, threw down upon the floor the poignard which he always took with him as a means of instilling respect into whomsoever it might concern, and spent the next quarter of an hour in disputing with a couple of blacksmiths--men who, as usual, were rascals of the type which, on perceiving that something is wanted in a hurry, at once multiplies its terms for providing the same.