The next morning, for the first time in years Akakiy does not go to the office. Instead he goes to see the district chief but is told that he is still asleep. He returns at ten o'clock, and is told the same thing. At eleven, he is turned away again, being informed that the superintendent is now not at home. Desperate, Akakiy comes back again at dinnertime and is once again denied entrance by the clerks, who demand to know his business. Frustrated by these delays, Akakiy actually shows some spirit and demands to see the chief, lying and saying that he's from the department of justice and will report them all if he's not allowed in. This finally gets some action and he is shown in to see the chief, who listens to his tale of the stolen overcoat. Instead of showing interest in helping though, the chief starts to question Akakiy: does he make a habit of being out late? Was he at a place of illrepute? Akakiy leaves with no assurance that any action to recover his coat will be taken. The next day a very pale Akakiy returns to work, wearing his threadbare old cloak. Some of the officials meanly laugh about his stolen overcoat, but others feel sympathy for Akakiy and someone suggests taking up a collection for him. Unfortunately, the officials have recently had a number of expenditures- a portrait of the director, and a book by an author who is a friend of the director- so there is little money to spare and the donation is extremely small. One of the officials, feeling bad for him, advises Akakiy against going to the police saying that, even if they bother to investigate and actually find his overcoat, they will refuse to give it back unless he can provide legal proof that the coat is his. Instead, he advises Akakiy to seek out a certain prominent person- who shall remain nameless- who, if he decides to help, can influence the authorities to investigate the crime. Clutching at straws, Akakiy decides to see this prominent person who, though unnamed, we're told has only recently been appointed to his post, previously having been a very insignificant official. In order to make it clear that he is now a person of import, he requires that no one be sent to him directly. Rather, those desiring an audience will have to run a gauntlet of lesser officials: the collegiate recorder must make a report to the government secretary, who must make a report to the titular councillor, and so on. And, to make sure his subordinates are properly intimidated, he frequently employs these phrases: "How dare you?" "Do you know whom you are speaking to?" "Do you realise who stands before you?" Akakiy eventually makes it to this Very Important Person's antechamber where he is kept waiting once again, for a very long time so that he will realise just how busy and important the man he's calling upon is. Once Akakiy is summoned into his august presence, the prominent fellow barks at him, "What do you want?" And Akakiy, frightened and confused, stammers out his tale of woe, only to have the VIP shout at him for daring to come to see him in person rather than file a report with the secretary: "Do you know to whom you speak? Do you realise who stands before you? Do you realise it? do you realise it? I ask you!" Akakiy, already shaky, collapses and has to be carried out by the porters, insensible. Meanwhile, the Very Important Person is reflecting with satisfaction that he is now so intimidating that he can make a man faint dead away. When Akakiy comes to, he staggers out to the street and discovers that a fierce snowstorm has started. He feebly makes his way home through the bitter wind, chilled through in his old cloak. When he finally reaches his boarding house, his throat is so badly swollen that he can't talk, and he collapses in exhaustion on his bed. The next day Akakiy is suffering from a violent fever and becomes so sick that his alarmed landlady calls a doctor. The doctor examines Akakiy and bluntly tells the landlady that there's no hope for him, and that she might as well save time and order a casket- a pine one, as no doubt Akakiy can't afford one of oak. Akakiy is delirious during this time, muttering feverishly about his overcoat and robbers, and alternately asking for forgiveness from some high official, then cursing him. Eventually his words become incoherent, then cease... Akakiy Akakievitch dies and is soon after carried out of his room and taken away for burial. Several days later a porter is sent around from his office to find out why he hasn't been to work, only to be informed that Akakiy is dead and buried. The following day a new official is sitting at his desk, copying reports. But that is not quite the end of the story of Akakiy Akakievitch and his overcoat... (To Be Continued...)
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