CHAPTER XXXIII
EXPULSION FROM PARADISE
IPPOLYTE woke up with an enormous boil on his face. All his misfortunes, all his suffer ings and failures, and all his anxiety in his search for the diamonds seemed to be concentrated in that terrible boil. ‘ You’ve done this on purpose,’ said Bender un kindly. Hippolyte sighed heavily and went to fetch the paints. Soon they were busy at work on the poster and the third day on the steamer began. It began with a short conflict between the brass band and the ‘ Five Noises ’ about a place for rehearsing. After lunch both the brass band and the noises went to a bench at the stem of the steamer. The first to settle himself down on a bench was Galkin, but a man from the brass band soon came up to him. ‘ This seat is reserved,’ said Galkin. ‘ By whom ? ’ ' By me—by Galkin.’ ‘ Who else ? ’ ' By Malkin, Palkin, Chaikin, and Zalkind.’ ‘ That’s nothing. This is our place.’ Reinforcements came up from both parties until the trombones faced the saxophones, and the brass glittered in the sunshine. ‘This gang of ear-splitters has taken our place’ complained the clarinet-player. ’ ' Oh you----- ’ said Zalkind, trying to find an insult ing expression. ‘ You musical conservatives ! ’ ‘ You’re preventing us from rehearsing.’ ‘ Nonsense ! It’s you who are preventing us from rehearsing! ’
H
215
