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

Victor Mikhailovich bristled with fury for some time.

В«Sons of bitches!В» he said, turning to the spectators. В«Conceited bums!В»

В«That's enough, Victor MikhailovichВ», called Elena Stanislavovna from the window. В«Come in here a momentВ».

She placed a dish of stewed fruit in front of Polesov and, pacing up and down the room, began asking him questions.

В«But I tell you it was him-without his moustache, but definitely himВ», said Polesov, shouting as usual. В«I know him well. It was the spitting image of VorobyaninovВ».

В«Not so loud, for heaven's sake! Why do you think he's here?В»

An ironic smile appeared on Polesov's face.

В«Well, what do you think?В»

He chuckled with even greater irony.

В«At any rate, not to sign a treaty with the BolsheviksВ».

В«Do you think he's in danger?В»

The reserves of irony amassed by Polesov over the ten years since the revolution were inexhaustible. A series of smiles of varying force and scepticism lit up his face.

В«Who isn't in danger in Soviet Russia, especially a man in Vorobyaninov's position. Moustaches, Elena Stanislavovna, are not shaved off for nothingВ».

В«Has he been sent from abroad?В» asked Elena Stanislavovna, almost choking.

В«DefinitelyВ», replied the brilliant mechanic.

В«What is his purpose here?В»

В«Don't be childish!В»

В«I must see him all the sameВ».

В«Do you know what you're risking?В»

В«I don't care. After ten years of separation I cannot do otherwise than see Ippolit MatveyevichВ».

And it actually seemed to her that fate had parted them while they were still in love with one another.

В«I beg you to find him. Find out where he is. You go everywhere; it won't be difficult for you. Tell him I want to see him. Do you hear?В»

The parrot in the red underpants, which had been dozing on its perch, was startled by the noisy conversation; it turned upside down and froze in that position.

В«Elena StanislavovnaВ», said the mechanic, half-rising and pressing his hands to his chest, В«I will contact himВ».

В«Would you like some more stewed fruit?В» asked the fortune-teller, deeply touched.

Victor Mikhailovich consumed the stewed fruit irritably, gave Elena Stanislavovna a lecture on the faulty construction of the parrot's cage, and then left with instructions to keep everything strictly secret.

Chapter Eleven.