A. It was midday.
B. Voldyrev, a tall country gentleman with a cropped head and prominent eyes, took off his overcoat, mopped his brow with his handkerchief, and went into the government office.
C. "Where can I make an inquiry here?" he said, addressing a porter who was bringing a trayful of glasses from the furthest recesses of the office.
D. Voldyrev coughed and went towards the window. E. "To that one sitting near the window!" said the porter, indicating with the tray the furthest window. F. There, at a green table spotted like typhus, was sitting a young man with his hair standing up in four tufts on his head, with a long pimply nose, and a long faded uniform.