The Mantle and Other Stories

a barber of the name of Ivan Jakovlevitch. He had lost his family name, and on his sign-board, on which was depic

resh-baked bread, he sat up a little in bed, and saw his wife, who had a special p

aid, "I do not want any coffee; I sh

," said his wife to herself; "then I shall have a chance o

ared two onions, assumed a serious expression, and began to cut the bread. After he had cut the loaf in two halves, he looked, and to

he murmured in his b

finger, and dr

t. A nose, an actual nose; and, moreover, it seemed to be the nose of an acquaintance! Alarm and terror were depic

You tippler! I myself will report you to the police! Such a rascal! Many customers have told me tha

t this nose could belong to no other than to Kovaloff, a member of

e of cloth and place it in the corner. There it may r

of the duties and obligations of a respectable man. You vagabond! You good-for-nothing! Am I to undertake all responsibility for

abbergasted. He thought and thou

traordinary occurrence, for a loaf is something baked and a nose is something different. I don't understand the matter at all." And Ivan Jakovlevitch was silent. The thought that the police might fi

niment of the emphatic exhortations of his spouse, he wr

ered inquiries upon him. "Hullo, Ivan Jakovlevitch! Whom are you going to shave so early in the morning?" etc., so that he could find no suitable opportunity to do what he wanted. Later on he di

ame more thronged and the merchants began to open their shops. At last he resolved to

e not yet given any detailed information about

, his own was always unshaved. His coat (he never wore an overcoat) was quite mottled, i.e. it had been black, but become brownish-ye

always smell, Ivan Jakovlevitch!" the latter answered, "What do they smell of?" "I don't know, my friend, but they smell very strong." Ivan Jakovlevitch aft

ater. He felt as though a ton weight had been lifted off him, and laughed cheerfully. Instead, however, of going to shave any officials, he turned his steps to a building, the sign-board of which bore the legend "Teas served here," in order to have a glass of punch, when

e, took his hat off quickly, went towards the police in

l me, my friend, why you w

ay to my customers, and only looked down

't get out of it like t

two or even three times a week g

th me already, and reckon it a high honour that I let them show m

the strange episode vanishes in mist,