read the following passage:

"how can i get at it? " thought kovaloff. "everything the uniform, the hat, and so on show that it is a state-councillor. how the deuce has that happened? "

he began to cough discreetly near it, but the nose paid him not the least attention.

"honourable sir," said kovaloff at last, plucking up courage, "honourable sir."

"what do you want? " asked the nose, and turned round.

"it seems to me strange, most respected sir you should know where you belong and i find you all of a sudden where? judge yourself."

"pardon me, i do not understand what you are talking about. explain yourself more distinctly."

nikolai gogol, "the nose"
what evidence from the text gives you the impression that kovaloff is intimidated by his nose?

a. he kisses the nose's hand and tells him how happy he is to meet him
b. he is unable to say anything, and the nose leaves in confusion
c. he is fearfully asks the nose if it is alright if he asks it a question
d. he has to gather his courage before he is able to speak to the nose