Here Chichikov went completely beyond the bounds of all patience, banged his chair on the floor in aggravation, and wished the devil on her. Of the devil the lady landowner was extraordinarily frightened. “Oh, don’t remind me of that one, God help him!” she cried out, turning all pale. “Just two days ago I spent the whole night dreaming about the cursed one. I had a notion to tell my fortune with cards that night after prayers, and God sent him on me as a punishment. Such a nasty one; horns longer than a bull’s.”
