The britchka bounded over the cobblestones, and at length turned into the hostelry's courtyard, where the travellers were met by Petrushka.

With one hand holding back the tails of his coat (which he never liked to see fly apart), the valet assisted his master to alight.

The waiter ran out with candle in hand and napkin on shoulder.

Whether or not Petrushka was glad to see the barin return it is impossible to say, but at all events he exchanged a wink with Selifan, and his ordinarily morose exterior seemed momentarily to brighten.
"Then you have been travelling far, sir ?" said the waiter, as he lit the way upstarts.
"Yes," said Chichikov.

"What has happened here in the meanwhile ?" "Nothing, sir," replied the waiter, bowing, "except that last night there arrived a military lieutenant.