Who is Madame Korobotcha from Dead Souls and what is their importance?

Madame Korobotcha is the second person who sells Tchitchikov souls. After leaving Manilov's house, Tchitchikov is caught in a storm, and he asks Madame Korobotcha if she will house him for the night. Madama Korobotcha appears to be a kind old woman, and she offers Tchitchikov shelter and food. When Tchitchikov asks her if she will sell him her dead souls, she becomes both suspicious and leery of Tchitchikov. She does, however, offer to sell him other goods that are produced on her estate, but Tchitchikov will buy nothing else. Tchitchikov finally talks the old woman into the deal, but Madame Korobotcha is never fully satisfied. Her dissatisfaction, in fact, is the reason that the rumors start about Tchitchikov in town.