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On reaching the offices of the board, Stepan Arkadyevitch,

escorted by a deferential porter with a portfolio, went into his

little private room, put on his uniform, and went into the

boardroom. The clerks and copyists all rose, greeting him with

good-humored deference. Stepan Arkadyevitch moved quickly, as

ever, to his place, shook hands with his colleagues, and sat

down. He made a joke or two, and talked just as much as was

consistent with due decorum, and began work. No one knew better

than Stepan Arkadyevitch how to hit on the exact line between

freedom, simplicity, and official stiffness necessary for the

agreeable conduct of business. A secretary, with the good-humored

deference common to everyone in Stepan Arkadyevitch's office,

came up with papers, and began to speak in the familiar and easy

tone which had been introduced by Stepan Arkadyevitch.

"We have succeeded in getting the information from the government

department of Penza. Here, would you care?..."