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 CHAPTER XXIV

A CONVERSATION WITH A NAKED ENGINEER STAP BENDER’S appearance in the newspaper office had been preceded by several important events. He had been to see the engineer, Ernest Pavlovich Shchukin, but had not found him at home. The flat was locked up and the owner was probably at work, so Bender decided to go and see him later on in the day and meantime went for a walk in the town. He was aching for activity ; he therefore crossed streets rapidly, stopped in some of the squares, winked at militiamen, and helped ladies into omni­ buses, altogether it looked as though he were enter­ taining the whole of Moscow, its statues, trams, railway stations, and advertisements. He walked among his guests chatting pleasantly and finding a kind word for any one he came across. But it tired him, and when it was almost six o clock it was time for him to go to see the engineer Shchukin. But fate arranged that instead of going to find Shchukin he was delayed for about two hours by having to give evidence before the militia. Quite unexpectedly a white horse, a timid animal, had rushed at him in Theatre Square and had knocked him down. Bender picked himself up rapidly. He was not even scratched, but It gave him an opportunity to create a disturbance, cabman and thumped him on the back. The old man took his punishment without saying a word. I insist on redress ! ’ shouted Bender. ‘ I insist on evidence being taken.’ His voice was shrill, as if he had been deeply injured. Then, as he stood by the Lfitle Theatre, he gave a short account of e affair to Persitsky, the reporter, who had hurried

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