It has come to our attention, dear readers, that Mr. Vladimir Pozner, a gentleman of the journalistic persuasion, has decided that his earthly ties to the Russian soil have become somewhat too burdensome for his current inclinations. In a move that would surely provoke a flurry of whispers in any respectable salon, he seeks to divest himself of a most sprawling residence in the very heart of Moscow.

Imagine, if you will, five rooms of utmost luxury, spanning some two hundred and thirty-two square metres! The sum requested for this architectural curiosity is a staggering one hundred and sixty-five million roubles. One might think such a prize would be snapped up by some eager cavalier or a lady of fashion seeking a city retreat. Alas, the world is full of peculiar prejudices.

It appears that the high society of Moscow is quite deterred by a most singular detail: the apartment is situated upon the first floor. One can almost picture the ladies, clutching their lace handkerchiefs and adjusting their most elaborate hats, shuddering at the thought of being so perilously close to the dusty pavement and the prying eyes of the common crowd. Such is the tragedy of modern luxury—where a few steps of elevation are the only thing standing between a triumph and a vacancy.

This residence, located in the quaint Chisty Lane, was erected in the year 1914, a time when houses were built with a certain dignity. Inside, one finds a vast drawing room, a kitchen-dining hall with a dressing room, and—most tellingly of our age of comfort—a gym, a laundry, and five bathrooms. Even a garage is included, for what is a gentleman without his carriage?

Mr. Pozner, having departed our shores in 2022, now spends his days amidst the splendours of the United States and France, possessing the citizenship of both. He visits Moscow but rarely, like a ghost of a former era. As for a return to the First Channel, where he once held court, the gentleman remains resolutely undecided.

Thus, the grand apartment stands silent, tended to by workmen, waiting for a buyer who is brave enough to reside upon the first floor. It is a melancholy reflection of our times: that one may possess a palace, yet find no one willing to step down from their pedestal to claim it.