The Mantle and Other Stories

which had masqueraded as a state-councillor, and caused so much sensation in the town, was found on

ed by chance into a mirror and perceived a nose. He qu

the entrance of Ivan prevented him. He told him to bring water, and after washing himself, he looked again in the

me that I have a heat-boil on

be a nice business if Ivan says to me 'No, sir, not onl

is nothing, sir; I can s

the Major, and snapped h

t his head in at the door, but as timidly as a c

r hands clean?" asked K

s,

u l

are perfectl

l; then c

r his chin, and in the twinkling of an eye covered his b

, it actually is the nose-really, when one thinks--" he continued, pursuing his mental soliloquy and still looking at it. Then quite gen

e care!" Koval

er the Major's chin, and although it was very difficult to shave him without using the olfactory organ as a point of support, he succeeded, howeve

hky, and drove straight to the confectioner's. As he entered it, he ordered a

ression two officers who were in the shop, one of whom

passed through the hall of reception, he cast a glance at the mirror; the nose was there! Then he went to pay a visit to another committee-man, a

urst into laughter at the sight of me, that is a most c

nothing. "Very good

usly. The conversation lasted a long time, during which he took more than one pinch of snuff, saying to himse

nothing had happened. His nose also remained in its place as if it had never quitted it. From th