How we cite our quotes: (Section.Paragraph)
Quote #4
At that moment the dog ran in, barking; I wanted to seize her, but she, vile thing, almost seized me by the nose with her teeth. I saw her basket in the corner, however. Aha, just what I need! I went over to it, rummaged in the straw of the wooden box, and, to my great satisfaction, pulled out a small bundle of little papers. (7.1)
We're still close to the beginning of the story here. Poprishchin had just one crazy episode before this, but we still had a tiny glimmer of hope somewhere in our heads that he might go back to being normal. But then we get to this part and he claims he just found a bundle of letters in the dog's box. And there go our hopes for his sanity.
But then, wait, he's describing the whole thing in that totally matter of fact way again. So maybe it is actually happening. Is this all real or is he crazy? Gogol, are you playing with us?
Quote #5
I suppose the girl took me for a madman, because she was extremely frightened. (7.1)
Great job noticing that, huh? He just burst into a woman's apartment saying he needs a word with her dog, rummaged through the dog's basket, took some stuff, got bitten, and stormed out without saying anything. And this is what he has to say about it? Well, at least he acknowledges she might have taken him for a madman.
But what's really clear here is that he doesn't think he's acting that strangely. The woman is frightened but he thinks that's only because she's stupid. (Remember how he calls her stupid a few lines before this?)