The woman, widow of a petty official named Kalinin was petitioning for something impossible and absurd, but nevertheless Oblonsky, with his usual politeness, asked her to sit down and heard her attentively to the end, gave her full instructions how and to whom to apply and even wrote briskly and fluently in his large, graceful and legible hand a little note to a personage who might be of use to her.
La solicitante, la esposa del teniente Kalinin, pedía una cosa estúpida a imposible. Pero Esteban Arkadievich, según su costumbre, la hizo entrar, la escuchó con atención y, sin interrumpirla, le dijo a quién debía dirigirse para obtener lo que deseaba y hasta escribió, con su letra grande, hermosa y clara, una carta de presentación para aquel personaje.