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DIAMONDS TO SIT ON

your cash operations for an hour or so and let us go and dine. 111 explain the situation on the way. You look an absolute tramp, and a champion cannot have such suspicious-looking friends. You must have a shave and brush-up.’ ‘ I haven’t sold a single ticket.’ Never mind. They’ll all flock in this evening. The town has already contributed twenty roubles towards an international chess tournament.’ . Then why must we have this simultaneous display this evening ? You may lose, whereas with twenty roubles we can get our tickets. The steamer Aar/ 7'^ ex ™ and we can travel in peace to Stalingrad and wait there for the theatre company. Perhaps we’ll manage to get hold of the chairs, open them, and then you and I will be rich men.’ You shouldn’t talk such nonsense on an empty stomach,’ said Bender. * It has a negative effect on the brain We might get as far as Stalingrad on twenty roubles, but who’ll pay for our food ? Vitamins, my dear friend, are not given out gratis to any one. But we may be able to pluck some thirty roubles from these generous citizens of Vassuki.’ But they 11 beat you,’ said Hippolyte bitterly Yes, there’s a risk,’ said Bender. ‘ They may even beat your face in. Still, I have one little idea that may save you, but about that later. Meantime let’s go and sample the local dishes.’ + evening the champion came up to the cash desk at the club. He had had a good meal He was shaved and he smelt of eau-de-Cologne. Hip?,-Who was also feeling and looking much better, was doing a brisk trade with the tickets quieti^ champion

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Sixteen roubles. That’s not much.’

players,’