place properly blessed, that I shall show myself. And you may be sure that I shan’t listen to anyone, but act entirely on my own judgment.”

“According to your own judgment—h’m! Yes, if Ivan Feodorovitch will allow it.”

“Ivan Feodorovitch has no chance whatever of being chosen marshal.”

“May heaven hear you! But let us go into that café there —the evening dew is falling; I am shivering.”

“You call that a café! Why it is a tavern, not to say a cavern. There are twenty brawlers in there, gorging themselves with champagne, while three merry girls, in very low dresses, play on the harp and sing to them, God only knows what sprightly songs. To think that those wretched fellows are all married men, and yet they sit there devouring those women with their eyes! And fancy, they were not ashamed to invite me!”

“And you?”

“Well, I looked in just to see what was going on there, and then I speedily stole away. Would you believe it, that many persons, in consequence of this permanent orgy, will be forced to set out for their villages after this evening? They had brought with them enough money to live on for a month or more, but in three days they are drained dry, and now they say that unforeseen circumstances recall them home as speedily as possible.”

“Ah, good evening, Pavel Ivanovitch,” said Burdyakin at this moment to Tchitchikoff, who happened to come along. “You were at the assembly to-day?” he continued, looking intently at our hero.

“Yes, I spent two hours there. I had taken a toothache there with me, and the draughts increased it to such a degree that I was obliged to return to my inn.”

“I also went to the assembly, in spite of a very bad cold, but I went later on, so that I did not meet you. Just imagine, they mentioned your affairs, your trial—a lot of nonsense, in fact.”

“Indeed! what was it?” said Tchitchikoff, ignoring the fact that anything could have been said to his disadvantage.

“Why, some trial which you underwent was mentioned; and, although it was said that you had been released, they laughed and talked and railed at you. After all, the nobility doesn’t wish you ill. So as to uphold you, I went from one person to another through the hall, talking, insisting, flattering, beseeching, and promising; and, by my faith, I succeeded; your electoral rights were recognised by a large majority of votes.”

“Well, I never suspected anything of the sort,” said our hero.

“Listen: let me advise you, between ourselves, to come forward boldly as a candidate for the marshalship. Believe me, your district is very well disposed towards you at the present moment, and you will be elected.”

“I don’t aspire to that office; it makes one lead a bustling, restless life,” said Tchitchikoff aloud, but all the while he thought to himself, “That would be very flattering.”

“Yes, indeed! Well, Pavel Ivanovitch, that is a very wise course of yours; don’t put yourself forward; you are, and will remain, a remarkably sensible man, not only in your own district but throughout the province. Look at Zazhmurin: what does he lack? A good fever, perhaps; at all events, he is rich and intelligent, and expert in rural management. But, no matter; here he is burning to become marshal. He has been warned that he will be black-balled, but he won’t listen to anything. He hopes on, and do you know why? This is the way he calculates. Oh, he’s a cunning fellow! To-morrow and the day after are to be devoted to the solution of a multitude of questions; the third day is Sunday; then the arrival of several gentlemen from all the districts is expected. In these three days many of the people already here will