Sadovsky's coming from Moscow. Rusakov, one of the characters in
the play, was known to be one of his favourite parts. Just before
dinner on that day, Nejdanov went down to the theatre to book a
ticket, but found a large crowd already waiting there. He walked
up to the desk with the intention of getting a ticket for the
pit, when an officer, who happened to be standing behind him,
thrust a three-rouble note over Nejdanov's head and called out to
the man inside: "He" (meaning Nejdanov) "will probably want
change. I don't. Give me a ticket for the stalls, please. Make
haste, I'm in a hurry!"

"Excuse me, sir, I want a ticket for the stalls myself!Nejdanov exclaimed,
throwing down a three-rouble note, all the ready money he possessed. He got
his ticket, and in the evening appeared in the aristocratic part of the
Alexandrinsky Theatre.

He was badly dressed, without gloves and in dirty boots. He was
uncomfortable and angry with himself for feeling uncomfortable. A
general with numerous orders glittering on his breast sat on his
right, and on his left this same elegant Sipiagin, whose
appearance two days later at Nejdanov's so astonished Mashurina
and Ostrodumov. The general stared at Nejdanov every now and
again, as though at something indecent, out of place, and
offensive. Sipiagin looked at him sideways, but did not seem
unfriendly. All the people surrounding him were evidently
personages of some importance, and as they all knew one another,
they kept exchanging remarks, exclamations, greetings,
occasionally even over Nejdanov's head. He sat there motionless
and ill at ease in his spacious armchair, feeling like an
outcast. Ostrovsky's play and Sadovsky's acting afforded him but