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A LOCKSMITH, A PARROT, AND A FORTUNE-TELLER

Number 7 Pereleshinsk Street was not one of the best houses in Stargorod. Its two stones, built in the style of the Second Empire, were ornamented with broken lions' heads. There were eight lions' heads, but there were two other decorations of a purely commercial character on the house. On one side hung a bright blue sign: 'The Odessa Bakers Union. Moscow Cracknels'. On the other side a packing firm called 'Rapidpack' advertised itself on a black sign in round gilt letters. In spite of the con­siderable difference between the two signs and the size of their working capital, both firms were occupied with one and the same business. They were specu­lating in coarse wool, fine wool, and cotton materials, and when they could get hold of silk materials then they also speculated in silk.

At the end of an arch leading to the yard there were two doors on the right-hand side. One of the doors had an unpolished brass plate bearing the name 'V M Polesov'. The other door had a tin plate fastened to it: 'Modes and Hats'. But these name­ plates were only for the sake of appearance. Inside the fiat marked 'Modes and Hats' there were neither modes nor hats, nor stands waiting for hats, nor figures waiting to be dressed; instead, there lived in this three-roomed flat a spotless white parrot in red breeches. The parrot was eaten up with fleas, but he could not complain to any one, for he had never been taught to speak. All day long he cracked seeds and spat the husks on to the carpet. Dark brown curtains hung at the windows, and over the piano hung