Leo Tolstoy

“ I came to inquire about Maslova’s case.”
“Yes, yes, immediately. My, what rogues these moneybags are!” he said. “You have seen that fellow; he is worth twelve millions, and is the meanest skinflint I ever met.”
Nekhludoff felt an irresistible loathing toward this ready talker who, by his tone of voice, meant to show that he and Nekhludoff belonged to a different sphere than the other clients.
“He worried me to death. He is an awful rogue. I wanted to ease my mind,” said the lawyer, as if justifying his not speaking about Nekhludoff’s case. ”

“ On the day appointed by the lawyer Fanirin, Nekhludoff called on him. On entering the magnificently appointed apartments of the house owned by the lawyer himself, with its huge plants, remarkable curtains and other evidences of luxury, attesting easily earned wealth, Nekhludoff found in the reception-room a number of people sitting dejectedly around tables on which lay illustrated journals intended for their diversion. The lawyer’s clerk, who was sitting in this room at a high desk, recognizing Nekhludoff, greeted him and said that he would announce him. ”

“ However, everything depends on who will be sitting in the Senate. If you know any one among them, bestir yourself.”
“Yes, I know some.”
“Then you must hasten, for they will soon be gone on their vacation, and won’t return for three months. In case of failure, the only recourse will be to petition the Czar. ”