Opening the door cautiously, Bodlevski made his way into the low, dirty barroom. Behind the bar stood a tall, handsome man with an open countenance and a bald head. Politely bowing to Bodlevski, with his eyes rather than his head, he invited him to enter the inner room. But Bodlevski explained that he wanted, not the inner room, but his friend Yuzitch.
"Yuzitch?" said the barkeeper thoughtfully. "We don't know anyone of that name."
"Why, he's here all the time," cried Bodlevski, in astonishment.
"Don't know him," retorted the barkeeper imperturbably.
"'Secret' sent me!" Bodlevski suddenly exclaimed, without lowering his voice.
The barkeeper looked at him sharply and suspiciously, and then asked, with a smile:
"Who did you say?"
"'Secret,'" repeated Bodlevski.
After a while the barkeeper said, "And did your—friend make an appointment?"
"Yes, an appointment!" Bodlevski replied, beginning to lose patience.