A male voice escaped into the corridor, rising from indignation to screeching thin notes, almost choking on words.

- Disgrace! How, I ask you, can I look my people in the eye? What should they say? They broke in, you know, they made a scandal!

- Who? Your people?

- What are you doing? Why are you talking!

In a gray-walled square room, a short man darted around a table set in the center. The dark blue jacket, buttoned up, was stretched over a solid belly as if on a drum, gathering in radiant folds at the buttons. Sharp black mustaches belligerently stuck out to the sides and now shook,...