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 CHAPTER XXXIII

EXPULSION FROM PARADISE

IPPOLYTE woke up with an enormous boil on his face. All his misfortunes, all his suffer­ ings and failures, and all his anxiety in his search for the diamonds seemed to be concentrated in that terrible boil. ‘ You’ve done this on purpose,’ said Bender un­ kindly. Hippolyte sighed heavily and went to fetch the paints. Soon they were busy at work on the poster and the third day on the steamer began. It began with a short conflict between the brass band and the ‘ Five Noises ’ about a place for rehearsing. After lunch both the brass band and the noises went to a bench at the stem of the steamer. The first to settle himself down on a bench was Galkin, but a man from the brass band soon came up to him. ‘ This seat is reserved,’ said Galkin. ‘ By whom ? ’ ' By me—by Galkin.’ ‘ Who else ? ’ ' By Malkin, Palkin, Chaikin, and Zalkind.’ ‘ That’s nothing. This is our place.’ Reinforcements came up from both parties until the trombones faced the saxophones, and the brass glittered in the sunshine. ‘This gang of ear-splitters has taken our place’ complained the clarinet-player. ’ ' Oh you- ’ said Zalkind, trying to find an insult­ ing expression. ‘ You musical conservatives ! ’ ‘ You’re preventing us from rehearsing.’ ‘ Nonsense ! It’s you who are preventing us from rehearsing! ’

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