In the half which contains the court-room are two neat, whitewashed rooms, the front one for clients, the other having a table adorned with ink-spots, and with a looking-glass upon it, and four oak chairs with tall backs; whilst along the wall stand iron-bound chests, in which are preserved bundles of papers relating to district law-suits.
Upon one of the chests stood at that time a pair of boots, polished with wax.
The court had been open since morning.

The judge, a rather stout man, though thinner than Ivan Nikiforovitch, with a good-natured face, a greasy dressing-gown, a pipe, and a cup of tea, was conversing with the clerk of the court.
The judge's lips were directly under his nose, so that he could snuff his upper lip as much as he liked.

It served him instead of a snuff-box, for the snuff intended for his nose almost always lodged upon it.

So the judge was talking with the assistant.

A barefooted girl stood holding a tray with cups at once side of them.