Page:Diamonds To Sit On.pdf/104

 92

DIAMONDS TO SIT ON

read in her face, so he began again in a business-like way ; ‘ A strict secret—a State secret 1 ’ He pointed at Hippolyte. ‘ Who do you think this gentleman really is ? You need not answer. You cannot guess. He is a giant of thought, the father of Russian demo­ cracy, and a person very near to the Tsar.’ Hippolyte drew himself up and looked rather be­ wildered. He did not understand, but he knew from experience that Ostap Bender never spoke with­ out purpose. The locksmith began to tremble. He was standing with his chin in the air, like a man ready to set off in a royal procession. The fortune­ teller sat down on the nearest chair and looked at Bender with awe. ‘ Are there many of us in the town ? ’ asked Bender. ‘ What is the general feeling ? ’ The locksmith began to give a vague and muddled reply, but Bender interrupted ; ‘ Good. That will do. Now, with your help, Elena Stanislavovna, we should like to meet the best people of the town, especially those whom fate has persecuted. Who can you invite ? ‘ Who can I invite ? ’ said the fortune-teller. ‘ What about Maxim Petrovich and his wife ? ’ ‘ Without his wife,’ corrected Bender. ‘ No wives allowed. You shall be the only pleasant exception. Who else ? ’ There followed a discussion, and they decided to invite Maxim Petrovich Charushnikov, a former member of the Town Council and now a model example of a man working for the Soviet; Dyadiev, the pro­ prietor of ‘ Rapidpack ’ ; Kislyarsky, the chairman of the Moscow Cracknels ; and two other young men who were thoroughly reUable. Please ask them to come here for a secret meeting,’ said Bender. The locksmith ran off to invite them. The fortune­ teller went into the kitchen, and Hippolyte turned to Bender ; ‘ What do you mean by it ? ’