The thin man turned pale and rigid all at once, but soon his face twisted in all directions in the
broadest smile; it seemed as though sparks were flashing from his face and eyes. He squirmed, he
doubled together, crumpled up. . . . His portmanteaus, bundles and cardboard boxes seemed to
shrink and crumple up too. . . . His wife's long chin grew longer still; Nafanail drew himself up to
atten-tion and fastened all the buttons of his uniform