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 A SHADY PAIR

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the Scriabin passengers were safely out of the way in the lottery-room, and then ran up on deck again. ‘ Hippolyte,’ he whispered, ' there’s an important bit of artistic work for you to do. Go to the exit of the first-class corridor and stand there, and if any one passes you sing louder.’ ‘ What do you mean ? What am I to sing ? ’ Save the Tsar Sing something passionate, but I warn you that if you don’t sing at the right moment I’ll knock your head off.’ The great schemer pattered into the corridor, and for a second Hippolyte could see his reflection in the mirror at the end of the corridor as he read the notice on one of the doors : ‘ Nikolas Sestrin, Producer ’
 * Sing ? Sing anything ; only mind it isn’t “ God

A few seconds later, he was running along the corridor carrying a chair with bent legs. He came up on deck and after exchanging glances with Hippolyte, took the chair into a comer. ‘ The chair must remain here until the evening,’ he said rapidly. ‘ I have thought the whole thing out. Hardly any one comes to this part of the boat. Cover the chair with our canvases and when it’s dark we can quietly rip it open.’ A minute later the chair was hidden under canvases and bunting. Hippolyte was again overcome with anxiety and nervousness. ' Why not take it to our cabin ? ’ he said impati­ ently. ‘ We could examine it then and there, and if the diamonds are in it we can go ashore at once.’ ‘ And if we don’t find them, what are we to do with the chair ? Perhaps you’d like me to return it to Comrade Sestrin and say politely : “ Excuse us, com­ rade, we stole your chair, but unfortunately we did not find what we were looking for. You can have it back now, although we’re afraid it is in a slightly damaged condition.” Is that what you’d do ? ’