The club elders made up the committee. A tensely expectant crowd gathered by the doors into the judges’ room. For a short while it grew quiet and monotonous in the club. No music was being played. The guests had fallen silent. Peredonov felt eerie. But within a short while conversation, impatient grumbling and then a clamor rose in the crowd. Someone was trying to convince people that both prizes had been won by actors. “You just see,” someone’s irritated and hissing voice was heard. Many people believed it. The crowd grew restless. Those who had received only a few tickets were already angered by the fact. Those who had received a large number were upset in anticipation of a possible injustice. Suddenly a bell gave a delicate and nervous tinkle. The judges had emerged: Veriga, Avinovitsky, Kirillov and the other elders. A wave of commotion ran through the room and suddenly everyone fell silent.
