Serezha had met him in the hall, and had heard him piteously begging the porter to announce him to Karenin, and saying that he and his children were face to face with death.
Сережа застал его раз в сенях и слышал, как он жалостно просил швейцара доложить о себе, говоря, что ему с детьми умирать приходится.