Akakiy Akakievitch shook his head and laughed, and then went on his way.

Why did he laugh?
Either because he had met with a thing utterly unknown, but for which every one cherishes, nevertheless, some sort of feeling; or else he thought, like many officials, as follows: "Well, those French! What is to be said?
If they do go in anything of that sort, why--" But possibly he did not think at all.
Akakiy Akakievitch at length reached the house in which the sub-chief lodged.

The sub-chief lived in fine style: the staircase was lit by a lamp; his apartment being on the second floor.

On entering the vestibule, Akakiy Akakievitch beheld a whole row of goloshes on the floor.

Among them, in the centre of the room, stood a samovar or tea-urn, humming and emitting clouds of steam.