One fine evening, a no less fine government clerk called Ivan was sitting in a theater, enjoying an opera happily. But suddenly he took off the glasses, bent over and… "Aptchee!" he sneezed. As a polite man, Ivan cleaned his face and looked round to see whether he brought trouble to anyone. Then he saw an old gentleman in front of him cleaning his neck carefully with his glove. That man was General Brizz.
"I have spattered him," thought Ivan, "this is no good. I must apologize.'
Ivan gave a cough, bent his whole person forward, and whispered in the general's ear.
"Sorry, sir. I spattered you accidentally…"
"Never mind, never mind."
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it…"
"Oh, please, sit down! Let me listen!"
Ivan was ashamed, smiling stupidly and falling back to the seat. He watched the opera but no longer felt pleased." I should explain to him… that it's the law of nature, or he'll think I meant to do that."
The next morning, Ivan put on a new uniform, had his hair cut and went to Brizz's office.
"Yesterday at the theater, if you remember, sir," Ivan began, "I sneezed and spattered. It was an accident..."
"Oh, it's nothing...I'd forgotten it!" replied General impatiently, waving his hand.
"He has forgotten, but there's displeasure in his eyes." thought Ivan, "He doesn't want to talk, that means he's angry... I must explain clearly."
When the general finished his work, Ivan stepped toward him, overcoming his shyness, "If I trouble you, sir, I'm simply regretful! Please forgive me... I didn't do it to..."
The general made a red face, "Why, you're simply making fun of me," he shut the door behind him.
"There's nothing of making fun!" thought Ivan, "He can't understand. I have to explain in person."
The next day, Ivan went to the general's again.
"Sorry to disturb you yesterday, sir," he said, "but I was apologizing for spattering you, not to make fun as you said..
"Get out!" shouted General, turning suddenly purple.
"Wha... what?" asked Ivan weakly, shaking all over and feeling nothing but fear.
"Get out!" repeated General.
Seeing and hearing nothing, he went out into the street and walked along...Reaching home, without taking off his uniform, he lay down on the sofa, and later ... dead.
