The Emperor, the whole Court, and crowds of people were all looking at them – at him and at Makhotin, who was a full length ahead of him when they approached the Devil (as the solid barrier was called).
L’imperatore e la corte e una folla di gente, tutti guardavano lui e Machotin, in testa per la lunghezza d’un cavallo, mentre si avvicinavano al «diavolo» (così veniva chiamata la barriera massiccia).