But as soon as he entered the semi-circular courtyard, got out of his sledge and entered the porch, where he was met by a hall-porter with a shoulder-belt who noiselessly opened the door and bowed to him; as soon as he saw in the hall the coats and goloshes of those of the members who realized that it was easier to take off their goloshes downstairs than to go up in them; and as soon as he heard the mysterious ring of the bell that announced his ascent; and while mounting the shallow steps of the carpeted stairs perceived the statue on the landing, and saw upstairs the third hall-porter in club livery – whom he recognized, though the man had aged – who opened the door for him without haste or delay, gazing at the new arrival directly he saw all this, Levin was enveloped in the old familiar atmosphere of the place, an atmosphere of repose, ease, and propriety.
Ma appena entrato nel cortile largo, semicircolare, e appena sceso dalla vettura, salì la scalinata e incontro a lui un portiere con la bandoliera aprì la porta senza rumore e s’inchinò; appena vide nella portineria le soprascarpe e le pellicce dei soci, i quali avevano considerato che costava minor fatica togliere le soprascarpe giù che non portarle su; appena sentì la scampanellata misteriosa che lo precedeva e, salendo per la scala a dolce pendio, coperta d’un tappeto, vide la statua sul pianerottolo e, sulla porta di sopra, nella livrea del club, il terzo portiere a lui noto, invecchiato, il quale senza affrettarsi e senza indugiare apriva la porta ed esaminava l’ospite, Levin fu preso dall’antica impressione del club: un’impressione di distensione, di benessere e di decoro.