"Nay, oblige me, only just feel his ears!"
Tchichikoff, in order to oblige him, complied with the request, and felt the ears of the young dog, and then added: "yes, it will be a fine dog."
"And his nose, can you feel how cold it is? just try it with your hand."
Tchichikoff not wishing to offend him, even felt the dog's nose, saying: "yes, he seems to have a fine scent."
"A thorough-bred bull-dog," continued Nosdrieff, "and I must confess I longed to have a real English bull-dog, long ago. Here, Porphir, take him away again."
Porphir took the young bull-dog gently under the stomach, and carried it back again into the carriage.
"I say, Tchichikoff, you must now come as far as my house, it is only five wersts off, and we shall be there in no time, and later if you like you may proceed to Sobakevitch's."
"And why should I not," thought Tchichikoff to himself, "I'll really drive as far as Nosdrieff's estate and see what it is like. He is not worse than anybody else; he is a good a gentleman as any, and besides, he is a gambler and has lost. To judge by appearances he seems rather clever, consequently, it might easily happen that I shall easily obtain what I want."
"Very well then," he added aloud, "I will, but on the express condition that you will not detain me, because my time is precious."
"Ah, my soul, that is right! I am delighted my dear fellow, allow me to embrace you, to kiss you."