Chapter III Summary

Golyadkin arrives in Nevsky Prospect and immediately goes into the arcade to do his shopping. He exchanges all his large notes for smaller ones. He has to pay a commission, but is pleased the greater pile of notes makes his notebook look fatter. He tells a couple shopkeepers to hold something for him and he'll return with the deposit for the items. Golyadkin stops for lunch and is paying for his meal when he meets the same two clerks he saw earlier on the street. He does not want to talk to them, but at the same time he does not want to appear rude so he greets them with a smile. He asks whether the bear is still in the office and when they do not know what he is talking about, Golyadkin hits one playfully on the shoulder and...