lly with
his collar, and resembled varnished leather on the edges.

Ivan Ivanovitch thought to himself, "It's not bad that Peter
Feodorovitch has come to talk it over with me." But he was very
much surprised to see that the chief was walking remarkably fast and
flourishing his hands, which was very rarely the case with him. There
were eight buttons on the chief of police's uniform: the ninth, torn off
in some manner during the procession at the consecration of the church
two years before, the police had not been able to find up to this time:
although the chief, on the occasion of the daily reports made to him by
the sergeants, always asked, "Has that button been found?" These eight
buttons were strewn about him as women sow beans--one to the right and
one to the left. His left foot had been struck by a ball in the last
campaign, and so he limped and threw it out so far to one side as to
almost counteract the efforts of the right foot. The more briskly the
chief of police worked his walking apparatus the less progress he made
in advance. So while he was getting to the balcony, Ivan Ivanovitch
had plenty of time to lose himself in surmises as to why the chief was
flourishing his hands so vigorously. This interested him the more, as
the matter seemed one of unusual importance; for the chief had on a new
dagger.

"Good morning, Peter Feodorovitch!" cried Ivan Ivanovitch, who was, as
has already been stated, exceedingly curious, and could not restrain his
impatience as the chief of police began to ascend to the balcony, yet
never raised his eyes, and kept grumbling at his foot, which could not
be persuaded to mount the step at the first attempt.

"I wish my good friend and benefactor, Ivan Ivanovitch, a good-day,"
replied the chief.

"Pray sit down. I see that you are weary, as your lame foot hinders--"

"My foot!" screamed the chief, bestowing upon Ivan Ivanovitch a glance
such as a giant might cast upon a pigmy, a pedant upon a dancing-master:
and he stretched out his foot and stamped upon the floor with it. This
boldness cost him dear; for his whole body wavered and his nose struck
the railing; but the brave preserver of order, with the purpose of
making light of it, righted himself immediately, and began to feel in
his pocket as if to get his snuff-box. "I must report to you, my dear
friend and benefactor, Ivan Ivanovitch, that never in all my days have I
made such a march. Yes, seriously. For instance, during the c