Then he hung his head as though already repenting of his rash act, and added: "Although a man of grey hairs, I have not yet learned wisdom." "But," inquired the President further, "how comes it about, Paul Ivanovitch, that you have purchased peasants apart from land?
Is it for transferment elsewhere that you need them ?" "Yes." "Very well, then.

That is quite another matter.

To what province of the country ?" "To the province of Kherson." "Indeed?
That region contains some splendid land," said the President; whereupon he proceeded to expatiate on the fertility of the Kherson pastures.
"And have you MUCH land there ?" he continued.
"Yes; quite sufficient to accommodate the serfs whom I have purchased." "And is there a river on the estate or a lake ?" "Both." After this reply Chichikov involuntarily threw a glance at Sobakevitch; and though that landowner's face was as motionless as every other, the other seemed to detect in it: "You liar! Don't tell ME that you own both a river and a lake, as well as the land which you say you do." Whilst the foregoing conversation had been in progress, various witnesses had been arriving on the scene.

They consisted of the constantly blinking Public Prosecutor, the Inspector of the Medical Department, and others--all, to quote Sobakevitch, "men who cumbered the ground for nothing." With some of them, however, Chichikov was altogether unacquainted, since certain substitutes and supernumeraries had to be pressed into the service from among the ranks of the subordinate staff.

There also arrived, in answer to the summons, not only the son of Father Cyril before mentioned, but also Father Cyril himself.