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 THE AUCTION

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The next runner brought bad news. At first all went well, and then everything went badly. The purchaser of the chair had walked into the goods yard of the October railway station, and it was absolutely impossible to follow him, because there were sentries at the gate. ‘ He has probably left Moscow,’ said the boy. This greatly upset Bender. After paying the urchins handsomely'—a rouble per head—with the exception of the one who had forgotten the house number and was told to come early the next day. Bender returned to his room and without answering Hippolyte’s questions he began to form his plans. Hippolyte was in disgrace. Nothing had been lost so far. Bender had the addresses, and there were many old and tried methods which he would use so as to get hold of the chairs: (i) Ordinary acquaintance, (2) a love intrigue, (3) acquaintance followed by theft, (4) exchange, (5) money. The last was the surest, but there was very little money. Bender looked at Hippolyte with disgust, but it was not long before his usual optimism returned. Of course they could always get hold of some money ; there was that picture he could paint; there was the tea-strainer, and his career as a polygamist. But he was worried about the tenth chair. He had a clue, but what a clue 1 It was a very vague one. ‘ Well,’ said Bender aloud, ‘ we’ve stiU got a chance —a nine to one chance. Let the good work go on ! Do you hear, you over there ? Let the good work go on 1 ’