Chapter 5

           CertainlyChichikovwasathoroughcoward,for,althoughthebritchkapursueditsheadlongcourseuntilNozdrev’sestablishmenthaddisappearedbehindhillocksandhedgerows,ourherocontinuedtoglancenervouslybehindhim,asthougheverymomentexpectingtoseeasternchasebegin.Hisbreathcamewithdifficulty,andwhenhetriedhisheartwithhishandshecouldfeelitflutteringlikeaquailcaughtinanet.

           “Whatasweatthefellowhasthrownmeinto!”hethoughttohimself,whilemanyadireandforcefulaspirationpassedthroughhismind.Indeed,theexpressionstowhichhegaveventweremostinelegantintheirnature.Butwhatwastobedonenext?HewasaRussianandthoroughlyaroused.Theaffairhadbeennojoke.“ButfortheSuperintendent,”hereflected,“ImightneveragainhavelookeduponGod’sdaylight—Imighthavevanishedlikeabubbleonapool,andleftneithertracenorposteritynorpropertynoranhonourablenameformyfutureoffspringtoinherit!”(itseemedthatourherowasparticularlyanxiouswithregardtohispossibleissue).

           “Whatascurvybarin!”musedSelifanashedrovealong.“NeverhaveIseensuchabarin.Ishouldliketospitinhisface.‘Tisbettertoallowamannothingtoeatthantorefusetofeedahorseproperly.Ahorseneedshisoats—theyarehisproperfare.Evenifyoumakeamanprocureamealathisownexpense,don’tdenyahorsehisoats,forheoughtalwaystohavethem.