The thin man turned pale and rigid all at once but soon his face twisted in all directions in the broadest smile; it seemed as though sparks were flashing from his face and eyes. He squirmed he doubled together crumpled up. . . . His portmanteaus bundles and cardboard boxes seemed to shrink and crumple up too. . . . His wife's long chin grew longer still; Nafanail drew himself up to atten-tion and fastened all the buttons of his uniform