“No, no! I can’t announce a visitor like yourself without the secretary. Besides the general said he was not to be disturbed⁠—he is with the Colonel C⁠⸺. Gavrila Ardalionovitch goes in without announcing.”

“Who may that be? a clerk?”

“What? Gavrila Ardalionovitch? Oh no; he belongs to one of the companies. Look here, at all events put your bundle down, here.”

“Yes, I will if I may; and⁠—can I take off my cloak?”

“Of course; you can’t go in there with it on, anyhow.”