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 CHAPTER XL

THE TREASURE

NE rainy day at the end of October, Hippolyte was fussing about in Ivanopulo’s room. He was in his shirt-sleeves and was working at the window-sill, for there was still no table in the room Bender had received a commission to paint some house signs and had entrusted the work to Hippolyte. Ever since they had arrived in Moscow, nearly a month ago. Bender had been hanging about the goods yard of the October railway station hoping to discover some trace of the last chair, which undoubtedly concealed Madam Petukhov’s diamonds. Hippolyte was working hard at the metal disks and was frowning. The search for the diamonds during the last six months had completely changed him. At night he dreamt of mountains, of Iznurenkov’s eyes, of sinking ships and drowning men. He thought he saw bricks falling from the sky and a yawning chasm at his feet. Bender had been with Hippolyte all the time and had not noticed any difference in him, but actually he was extraordinarily changed. He did not walk as he used to do ; the expression of his eyes was wild, and his moustache had grown enormously and stuck out fiercely over his mouth. But it was not only his outward appearance that had changed : his character had developed new traits—determination and harsh­ ness. Three episodes had helped to bring out these new feelings : his miraculous escape from the Vassuki chess-players ; his first appearance as a beggar in Pyatigorsk ; and finally the earthquake, from which date he had nursed a secret hatred for Bender. Hippolyte had grown suspicious. He was afraid that Bender would find the chair, open it without

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