Let's take a minute to revisit the story's mysterious ending.
But many active and apprehensive persons could by no means reassure themselves, and asserted that the dead official still showed himself in distant parts of the city. And, in fact, one watchman in Kolomna saw with his own eyes the apparition come from behind a house; but being rather weak of body—so much so, that once upon a time an ordinary full-grown pig running out of a private house knocked him off his legs, to the great amusement of the surrounding public coachmen, from whom he demanded a groschen apiece for snuff, as damages—being weak, he dared not arrest him, but followed him in the dark, until, at length, the apparition looked round, paused, and inquired, "What do you want?" and showed such a fist as you never see on living men. The watchman said, "It's of no consequence," and turned back instantly. But the apparition was much too tall, wore huge mustaches, and, directing its steps apparently towards the Obukhoff Bridge, disappeared in the darkness of the night. (116)
We'll be honest. We have no idea what's going on here, and neither do the majority of critics. As far as we can tell, Gogol was just messing with us at this point. So we're just going to give you some questions to think about.
- What is up with the second ghost? Is that Akaky? Is it someone else? Is it the robber who took his coat?
- If the ghost is the robber, did a ghost rob Akaky? Or did this policeman think he saw a ghost and it was just a guy?
- Why is Gogol even telling us this? How does this affect our understanding of the story? Is it supposed to bring some kind of closure?