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DIAMONDS TO SIT ON

his seat, he pressed the stamp on their rather grubby passports. He took two roubles from the young couple, handed them a receipt, and said with a smile ; ‘ For the completed sacrament.’ Then he drew himself up to his full height. The broad yellow beams of the sun fell on his shoulders like epaulettes. He looked rather absurd, but unusually imposing. His glasses shone. The young people stood in front of him like two lambs. ‘ Young people,’ he said solemnly, ‘ allow me to congratulate you, as we used to say in the old days, on being legally married. It is very, very pleasant to see young people such as you moving hand in hand towards the attainment of eternal ideals. It is very, very pleasant ! ’ After this speech Hippolyte shook hands with them, sat down again, and feeling extremely pleased with himself went on reading File Number 2. His colleagues at the next table tittered over their inkpots. The ordinary working day began. No one else disturbed the registrar of marriages and deaths. Through the window Hippolyte could see people hurry­ ing past in the cold spring air, and some of the clerks stood at the window and chatted together about what was happening outside. Towards evening Bezenchuk went by. He had been walking about all day trying to discover whether any one had died. At last it was time for Hippolyte to leave the office. He put his papers away, hid the felt cushion in the drawer, combed his moustache, and smacked his lips at the thought of the hot soup waiting for him at home. Suddenly the door opened and in came Bezenchuk. ' Hallo ! ’ said Hippolyte, smiling, ‘ what have you got to say for yourself ? ’ Bezenchuk did not reply. ‘ Now then,’ said Hippolyte more sternly, ‘ what do you want ?’