7-9 (Apricot Soda)

I'm not sure what to make of this trio/ trinity theme. We have the Christian Trinity, and I thought to mirror that trinity there were to be the three of the Professor, the choirmaster and the tom cat. Even on the professor's pocket watch, there is a diamond triangle, which I noted because I thought it emphasized the three. Then, this fiery red-headed character comes along! Who is he? He makes me think that the three are not all one entity as the Christian Trinity is, as I thought before. Now, I think that they are all separate characters, the fallen angels and Woland of course as Satan. I found it strange that when Styopa was trying to recall the night before, he can't remember the girl he was trying to kiss, so he exclaims, "the devil knew who she was" (87). Usually we say something like, "God knows where she went last night." As if to say, we have no idea where she went, but God, being the omniscient being that He is, knows. So, by saying "the devil knew who she was," Styopa suggests that the devil, too, is omniscient.
Woland refers to the other two, the choirmaster and the tom cat, as his "retinue." I think he consistently refers to them as his retinue. So, when Dr.Stravinsky refers to his medical crew as his retinue, I was suspicious. Ivan even calls him a professor, which is reminiscent of Woland as well. However, Ivan thinks him very much like Pontius Pilate. I don't know if it's the crazy talking (because Ivan mentions Pontius Pilate a LOT and that wasn't exactly the biggest point about the Professor, it seems to really be on his mind, and the things that makes him sound crazy whenever he tries to tell his story) or it's a hint. I didn't find any hints of devious behavior from the doctor, but I'm on the look out for anything strange with him.
It's funny how Koroviev kind of corrupts Nikanor Ivanovich. First, Koroviev feeds Nikanor's greed, when he pushes him to ask for a large sum of money for the apartment rent. When he first is determining the price, Nikanor is hesitant in asking for 500 roubles a day, as if it were already pushing the price (since he knew that the foreigner was a millionaire). Then, Koroviev almost teases Nikanor with all the money, pulling out the stacks, counting the money, adding how much "money loves to be counted" (110-111). I can almost see Nikanor's eyes glazing over all the money that would soon be his. When Nikanor questions his actions, Koroviev immediately responds that there are no witnesses, and the Nikanor begins to relax and think that "there had, indeed, been no witnesses" (111). I'm still iffy about the devil's extent of power. We know for sure that he can foretell and knows what's happening in the future. But, when Koroviev calls to report Nikaonor Ivanovich, he knows or controls exactly where he puts it, and how much, which was not originally what he had. Nikanor had 5,000 roubles not $400, yet he ends up with the dollars. The fact that Kovoiev knows that he wraps up the money and hides it in his toilet could very much be out of foresight, but the switch from roubles to dollars might be control? or since the money was just inanimate, it's not the same control as making Koroviev put the money in the toilet.
-Apricot Soda