Chichikov’s proposal that Platon travel with him becomes both a practical alliance and a fresh movement in the journey: Platon finds a reason to leave an idle home, while Chichikov sees a way to share expenses and pursue business on the road. Their agreement is immediate, but their departure is briefly held up by their host, Peter Petrovich Pietukh, who has removed the carriage wheels and sent Platon’s horse to pasture. The next day, Chichikov and Platon set out with Constantine to visit Khlobuev, carrying their new partnership into the next stage of Chichikov’s schemes.