A PASSIONATE WOMAN—A POET’S DREAM 8i and rubber heels, green and black check socks, a cream-coloured cap, and an artificial silk scarf. ‘ It’s ours right enough,’ said Hippolyte, thinking of their visit to Gritsatsuev’s widow ; ‘ but how can we get hold of the chair ? Shall we buy it ? ’ ‘ How can we ? ’ retorted Bender. ‘ Apart from the expense, it’ll only cause talk. And why buy one chair, and precisely that chair ? ’ ‘ Well, what are we to do ? ’ asked Hippolyte. Bender looked down at his boots with pride. ‘ Chic moderne ! ’ he said. ‘ What are we to do ? Don’t you worry, Mr. President; I shall take this httle affair on to my own shoulders. Not a single chair will be able to resist these boots.’ ‘ Do you know,’ said Hippolyte excitedly, ‘ while you were talking to Madam Gritsatsuev about the flood, I sat down on our chair and, honour bright, I felt something hard under me. They are there ! I swear they are ! ’ ‘ Now, now, don’t get so excited. Citizen Michaelson.’ ‘ We’ll have to steal it at night. Yes, we’ll have to do that.’ ‘ Well, I must say for a marshal of nobility you’ve got some pretty poor ideas,’ said Bender. ‘ D’you know the technique of the business ? Perhaps you’ve got a skeleton key in your trunk ? No, no, put that right out of your head. That’s mean ; you can’t plunder a poor widow.’ ‘ But I should hke to get hold of it quickly,’ said Hippolyte. ‘ Quickly ! ’ said Bender scornfully. ‘ Only kittens are born quickly ! I shall marry her ! ’ ‘ Marry ? ’ ‘ Yes, marry Madam Gritsatsuev.’ ‘ But why ? ’ ‘ So as to be able to rummage in the chair in peace.’ ‘ But you’re tying yourself up for a lifetime ! ’ ‘ What win a man not do for a couple of diamonds ? ’ 6
