The Twelve Chairs / Двенадцать стульев. Книга для чтения на английском языке

В«Your drawing-room suite was probably used for firewood long agoВ».

Ippolit Matveyevich was so alarmed that he actually stood up.

В«Take it easy. I'll take charge. The hearing is continued. Incidentally, you and I will have to conclude a little dealВ».

Breathing heavily, Ippolit Matveyevich nodded his assent. Ostap Bender then began stating his terms.

В«In the event of acquisition of the treasure, as a direct partner in the concession and as technical adviser, I receive sixty per cent. You needn't pay my national health; I don't care about thatВ».

Ippolit Matveyevich turned grey.

В«That's daylight robbery!В»

В«And how much did you intend offering me?В»

«Well… er … five per cent, or maybe even ten per cent. You realize, don't you, that's fifteen thousand roubles!»

В«And that's all?В»

В«YesВ»

В«Maybe you'd like me to work for nothing and also give you the key of the apartment where the money is?В»

В«In that case, I'm sorryВ», said Vorobyaninov through his nose.

В«I have every reason to believe I can manage the business by myselfВ».

В«Aha! In that case, I'm sorryВ», retorted the splendid Ostap. В«I have just as much reason to believe, as Andy Tucker used to say, that I can also manage your business by myselfВ».

В«You villain!В» cried Ippolit Matveyevich, beginning to shake.

Ostap remained unmoved.

В«Listen, gentleman from Paris, do you know your jewels are practically in my pocket? And I'm only interested in you as long as I wish to prolong your old ageВ».

Ippolit Matveyevich realized at this point that iron hands had gripped his throat.

В«Twenty per centВ», he said morosely.

В«And my grub?В» asked Ostap with a sneer.

В«Twenty-fiveВ».

В«And the key of the apartment?В»

В«But that's thirty-seven and a half thousand!В»

В«Why be so precise? Well, all right, I'll settle for fifty per cent. We'll go halvesВ».

The haggling continued, and Ostap made a further concession. Out of respect for Vorobyaninov, he was prepared to work for forty per cent.

В«That's sixty thousand!В» cried Vorobyaninov.

В«You're a rather nasty manВ», retorted Bender. В«You're too fond of moneyВ».

В«And I suppose you aren't?В» squeaked Ippolit Matveyevich in a flutelike voice.

В«No, I'm notВ».

В«Then why do you want sixty thousand?В»

В«On principle!В»

Ippolit Matveyevich took a deep breath.

В«Well, are things moving?В» pressed Ostap.