The office of a city official. Myshkin is sitting at the table, reading some document. There is a careful knock on the office door, it opens a little and a flattering smiling Chichikov pokes his head through the crack. CHICHIKOV (as the monologue is being delivered, he slides into the office and approaches the table). Sorry for interrupting you from important work! I was told that in this office there is an official who is in charge of the distribution of invitation cards to the masquerade in the Winter Palace in honor of the tercentenary of St. Petersburg, a certain Mr. Myshkin.