Page:Diamonds To Sit On.pdf/51

 TRACES OF THE ‘ TITANIC ’

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‘ But the chemist swore it was a fast dye and would neither wash off in hot or cold water, soap water, nor even in petrol. And he said it was contraband. ‘ Contraband ! Anything contraband comes out of Odessa. Show me the bottle. I thought so. Look at that. Did you read that ? ’ ‘ Yes.’ ‘ No, I mean this—these words in small letters. It says quite distinctly that after washing the hair in hot or cold water, soapy water, or even in petrol that you ought never to rub the hair with a towel, but it in the sun or before a “ Primus ” stove. Why didn’t you do what it told you ? Now where can you go with such a lime-tree ? ’ . Hippolyte was crestfallen. The porter came m and on seeing his master’s moustache got such a shock that he immediately crossed himself. Then he asked his master for some money for a drink so that he might clear his head. , ‘ Give him a rouble,’ said Bender. After aU, he s a hero of toil. Only don’t put it down to my account. It’s a personal matter between you and your former servant.’ And then turning to the porter he con­ tinued : ' Hi! wait a minute, uncle ; we’ve got some­ thing to say to you.’ . Bender drew the porter into conversation about tne furniture, and in five minutes the partners knew every­ thing. In 1919 all the furniture had been removed to the House Department with the exception of one drawing-room chair, which had stood in the porter s room at first, but later it had been confiscated by the superintendent of the workhouse. ‘Then tell me,’ said Hippolyte, almost bursting with excitement, ‘ when you had the chair did you mend it at aU ? ” ‘ Mend it ? No, it didn’t need mending. Work was
 * Oh ! so it’s in this house ? ’
 * Yes it’s here.’