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read in her face, so he began again in a business-like way ; ‘ A strict secret—a State secret 1 ’ He pointed at Hippolyte. ‘ Who do you think this gentleman really is ? You need not answer. You cannot guess. He is a giant of thought, the father of Russian demo cracy, and a person very near to the Tsar.’ Hippolyte drew himself up and looked rather be wildered. He did not understand, but he knew from experience that Ostap Bender never spoke with out purpose. The locksmith began to tremble. He was standing with his chin in the air, like a man ready to set off in a royal procession. The fortune teller sat down on the nearest chair and looked at Bender with awe. ‘ Are there many of us in the town ? ’ asked Bender. ‘ What is the general feeling ? ’ The locksmith began to give a vague and muddled reply, but Bender interrupted ; ‘ Good. That will do. Now, with your help, Elena Stanislavovna, we should like to meet the best people of the town, especially those whom fate has persecuted. Who can you invite ? ‘ Who can I invite ? ’ said the fortune-teller. ‘ What about Maxim Petrovich and his wife ? ’ ‘ Without his wife,’ corrected Bender. ‘ No wives allowed. You shall be the only pleasant exception. Who else ? ’ There followed a discussion, and they decided to invite Maxim Petrovich Charushnikov, a former member of the Town Council and now a model example of a man working for the Soviet; Dyadiev, the pro prietor of ‘ Rapidpack ’ ; Kislyarsky, the chairman of the Moscow Cracknels ; and two other young men who were thoroughly reUable. Please ask them to come here for a secret meeting,’ said Bender. The locksmith ran off to invite them. The fortune teller went into the kitchen, and Hippolyte turned to Bender ; ‘ What do you mean by it ? ’
