“First, notepaper⁠—do you hear? Eight quires, like this sample, gilt-edged⁠ ⁠… it must be exactly like the sample. Varnish, sealing wax, as in Mikháil Ivánovich’s list.”

He paced up and down for a while and glanced at his notes.

“Then hand to the governor in person a letter about the deed.”

Next, bolts for the doors of the new building were wanted and had to be of a special shape the prince had himself designed, and a leather case had to be ordered to keep the “will” in.

The instructions to Alpátych took over two hours and still the prince did not let him go. He sat down, sank into thought, closed his eyes, and dozed off. Alpátych made a slight movement.

“Well, go, go! If anything more is wanted I’ll send after you.”