SECRET UNION OF SWORD AND PLOUGH 99
very drunk. ‘ Don’t go. Don’t go away. Wait for me in “ The Sorbonne ”. I may come back at any minute. Settle the bill. Let everything be ready. Farewell! Field-Marshal, wish me good-night! ’ Hippolyte returned to ‘ The Sorbonne ’ and waited until five o’clock in the morning, when Bender suddenly appeared with the chair. Hippolyte trembled with excitement as Bender put the chair in the middle of the room and sat down on it. ‘ How on earth did you manage it ? ’ asked Hippolyte. ‘ Quite simply,’ said Bender. ‘ The httle widow is fast asleep and dreaming. It seemed a pity to wake her, so alas ! I was compelled to leave a note for my love : “ I am off to Novokhopersk on business. Don’t wait for me for dinner. Your pet.” And then I took the chair. There are no trams at this time of day, so I took short rests on the way and sat on the chair.’ Hippolyte rushed across the room to the chair. ‘ Be quiet 1 ’ said Bender. ‘ We mustn’t make a noise.’ He took a pair of pincers out of his pocket and the work began. ‘ Have you locked the door ? ’ asked Bender. He pushed Hippolyte to one side and carefully took the cover from the chair-seat so as not to damage the English chintz. ' You don’t find such material nowadays,’ said Bender. ‘ We must take care of it.’ He was so slow that Hippolyte was growing more and more impatient and annoyed. ‘ Now ! ’ said Bender as he lifted up the upholstery and began to search among the springs with both hands.
- Well ? ’ cried Hippolyte excitedly. ‘ Well ? ’
' Well,’ answered Bender irritably. ‘ one chance in eleven and this chance----- ’ He groped among the springs and upholstery again, and then added : ‘ And this chance is no good.’
