Book 2 Chapter 20 Maslovas Appeal

A case of libel was to be heard that day, and therefore the
public were more numerous than usual--chiefly persons belonging
to the journalistic world.

The usher, a red-cheeked, handsome man in a fine uniform, came up
to Fanarin and asked him what his business was. When he heard
that it was the case of Maslova, he noted something down and
walked away. Then the cupboard door opened and the old man with
the patriarchal appearance stepped out, no longer in a short coat
but in a gold-trimmed attire, which made him look like a bird,
and with metal plates on his breast. This funny costume seemed to
make the old man himself feel uncomfortable, and, walking faster
than his wont, he hurried out of the door opposite the entrance.

"That is Bay, a most estimable man," Fanarin said to Nekhludoff,
and then having introduced him to his colleague, he explained the
case that was about to be heard, which he considered very
interesting.

The hearing of the case soon commenced, and Nekhludoff, with the
public, entered the left side of the Senate Chamber. They all,
including Fanarin, took their places behind a grating. Only the
Petersburg advocate went up to a desk in front of the grating.

The Senate Chamber was not so big as the Criminal Court; and was
more simply furnished, only the table in front of the senators
was covered with crimson, gold-trimmed velvet, instead of green
cloth; but the attributes of all places of judgment, i.e., the
mirror of justice, the icon, the emblem of hypocrisy, and the
Emperor's portrait, the emblem of servility, were there.