“And then: will the police allow an elephant to be taken into a private house?”
“I’ll arrange it. They’ll allow it.”
“And there’s another question: will the landlord of your house allow the elephant to come in?”
“Yes. I’m my own landlord.”
“Aha! That’s all the better. And still another question: what floor do you live on?”
“The second.”
“H’m.... That’s not so good.... Have you a broad staircase, a high ceiling, a large room, wide doorways, and a very stout flooring. Because my ‘Tommy’ is three and a quarter arshins in height and five and a half long. And he weighs a hundred and twelve poods.”[1]
[1] An arshin is about 3/4 of a yard, and a pood is 36 lbs.
Nadya’s father thought for a moment.
“Do you know what?” said he. “You come with me and look at the place. If it’s necessary, I’ll have a wider entrance made.”