Fat and Thin

Characters

• Misha, the fat man — a privy councillor and Porfiry’s school friend: He greets the reunion sincerely but is repelled when easy friendship gives way to servile rank-worship.
• Porfiry, the thin man — a collegiate assessor and Misha’s school friend: At first voluble and affectionate, he instantly shrinks before high office and adopts an abjectly deferential tone.
• Luise — Porfiry’s wife: A thin woman with a long chin whom her husband ceremoniously introduces twice.
• Nafanail, Nafanya — Porfiry’s schoolboy son: At first shy before the stranger, he snaps to attention and buttons his uniform after the rank is announced.