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DIAMONDS TO SIT ON

“ Do you think he’s running a great risk by returning ? ’ The locksmith’s irony was inexhaustible. It had been increasing during the ten years of the revolution. He smiled sarcastically. ‘ Who doesn’t run a risk in Soviet Russia ? Especially a man like Vorobianinov. A moustache, my dear lady, is not shaved off for nothing.’ ‘ Do you think he’s been sent from abroad ? ’ asked the fortune-teller breathlessly. ' Undoubtedly ! ’ answered the knowing locksmith. ‘ What can his object be ? ’ ' Don’t be so childish ! ’ ‘ Whatever happens, I must see him.’ ' I suppose you know what you’re risking ? ’ ‘ Oh ! it doesn’t matter. After a separation of ten years I must see him. I can’t resist it.’ And she really felt that fate had separated them at the height of their love for each other. ‘ I implore you, go and find him ! Find out where he is ! You go about everywhere—it won’t be difficult for you ; and tell him that I want to see him. Do you hear ? ’ The parrot in red trousers, who was fast asleep on his perch, was wakened by this noisy conversation and suddenly turned a somersault. ‘ Well,’ said the locksmith as he got up to go away, ‘ I’ll find him and have a word with him.’ ‘ Perhaps you’d like some more stewed fruit ? ’ said the fortune-teller, feeling generous. The locksmith did not refuse another plate of stewed fruit, and all the time that he was eating he told her how badly the parrot cage had been made and soldered. Then he stood up, said good-bye, and warned the fortune-teller to keep aU he had told her as a dead secret.