That is not a good sign.

Sooner or later I shall have to pay for it." And he relapsed into melancholy.
"Just listen to the fellow!" was Chichikov's and the President's joint inward comment.

"What on earth has HE to complain of ?" "I have a letter for you, Ivan Grigorievitch," went on Chichikov aloud as he produced from his pocket Plushkin's epistle.
"From whom ?" inquired the President.

Having broken the seal, he exclaimed: "Why, it is from Plushkin! To think that HE is still alive! What a strange world it is! He used to be such a nice fellow, and now--" "And now he is a cur," concluded Sobakevitch, "as well as a miser who starves his serfs to death." "Allow me a moment," said the President.

Then he read the letter through.