How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #7
The prominent personage was in his cabinet, conversing very, very gayly with a recently arrived old acquaintance and companion of his childhood, whom he had not seen for several years. At such a time it was announced to him that a person named Bashmachkin had come. He asked abruptly, "Who is he?" "Some official," they told him. "Ah, he can wait! this is no time," said the important man. It must be remarked here, that the important man lied outrageously: he had said all he had to say to his friend long before; and the conversation had been interspersed for some time with very long pauses, during which they merely slapped each other on the leg, and said, "You think so, Ivan Abramovich!" "Just so, Stepan Varlamovich!" Nevertheless, he ordered that the official should wait, in order to show his friend—a man who had not been in the service for a long time, but had lived at home in the country—how long officials had to wait in his ante- room. (90)
Akaky isn't the only person who is isolated from others because of his rank. The prominent personage cannot even be himself with his childhood friend because he's so concerned about maintaining appearances. How sad is that?
Quote #8
To whom all this fell, God knows. I confess that the person who told this tale took no interest in the matter. (100)
This line is kind of humorous because it reminds us that we are reading a story. It's also a little absurd because someone has taken enough interest in Akaky to tell this story to the narrator, and the narrator tells story to us, so obviously someone cared about him.
Quote #9
A being disappeared, and was hidden, who was protected by none, dear to none, interesting to none, who never even attracted to himself the attention of an observer of nature, who omits no opportunity of thrusting a pin through a common fly, and examining it under the microscope[...] (100)
There's that fly again. Akaky is compared to fly, just like when we first met him, but this time the comparison is a little different. Instead of being as insignificant as a fly, now Akaky is even less significant than a fly.