Page:Diamonds To Sit On.pdf/161

 ABSALOM VLADIMIROVICH IZNURENKOV 149 friends that they would tear the chairs to pieces with their nails. ‘ Even if we don’t find anything in the chair,’ said Bender, ' we can consider that we have earned ten thousand roubles, for each chair we rip up adds to our chances. What does it matter if there is nothing in the good lady’s chair ? We don’t need to break it because of that. Let it furnish Ivanopulo’s room. It will make it more comfortable for us.’ The same day they went out of the house together, but they separated and went in different directions. Hippolyte had been told to visit the stranger in Sadovaya-Spaskaya Street. He had been given twentyfive roubles for expenses and had been warned not to go into public-houses and not to return without the chair. Bender decided to deal with Ella’s husband. Hippolyte took bus Number 6 to the other end of the town. He got out at the Red Gates, found the right house, and began to walk up and down the street, trying to make up his mind to go in. It had been a dirty old Moscow hotel which had since been converted into a hostel, and judging from its dilapidated condition it was occupied by incurable bankrupts. Without having formulated any particular plan, he at last went up to the first corridor, in which he found a number of different doors. Hippolyte timidly approached room Number 41. There was a dirty visiting card fixed to the door by a drawing-pin. He read the name: ‘ Absalom Vladimirovich Iznurenkov.’ Hippolyte was so excited that he forgot to knock. He opened the door, walked in, and found himself in the middle of a room. ‘ Excuse me,’ he said, ‘ but may I see Comrade Iznurenkov ? ’ There was no reply. The room was empty. It was impossible to teU from the appearance of the room what kind of man the occupant was, but it was obvious that he was a bachelor and had no servant. A paper