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

And the old man gazed at Ostap with tears of sympathy in his eyes, although that very day he had seen Elena Stanislavovna at the meat stalls in the market.

«We all pass away», he said, «but please tell me on what business you're here, my dear … I don't know your name».

В«VoldemarВ», promptly replied Ostap.

В«Vladimir Ippolitovich, very goodВ».

The old man sat down at the table covered with patterned oilcloth and peered into Ostap's eyes.

In carefully chosen words, Ostap expressed his grief at the loss of his parents.

He much regretted that he had invaded the privacy of the respected record-keeper so late at night and disturbed him by the visit, but hoped that the respected record-keeper would forgive him when he knew what had brought him.

В«I would like to have some of my dad's furnitureВ», concluded Ostap with inexpressible filial love, В«as a keepsake. Can you tell me who was given the furniture from dad's house?В»

В«That's difficultВ», said the old man after a moment's thought.

В«Only a well-to-do person could manage that. What's your profession, may I ask?В»

В«I have my own refrigeration plant in Samara, run on artel linesВ».

The old man looked dubiously at young Vorobyaninov's green suit, but made no comment.

В«A smart young manВ», he thought.

В«A typical old bastardВ», decided Ostap, who had by then completed his observation of Korobeinikov.

В«So there you areВ», said Ostap.

В«So there you areВ», said the record-keeper. В«It's difficult, but possibleВ».

В«And it involves expenseВ», suggested the refrigeration-plant owner helpfully.

«A small sum…»

«„Is nearer one's heart“, as Maupassant used to say. The information will be paid for».

В«All right then, seventy roublesВ».

В«Why so much? Are oats expensive nowadays?В»

The old man quivered slightly, wriggling his spine.

«Joke if you will…»

В«I accept, dad. Cash on delivery. When shall I come?В»

В«Have you the money on you?В»

Ostap eagerly slapped his pocket.

В«Then now, if you likeВ», said Korobeinikov triumphantly.

He lit a candle and led Ostap into the next room. Besides a bed, obviously slept in by the owner of the house himself, the room contained a desk piled with account books and a wide office cupboard with open shelves. The printed letters A, B, C down to the rearguard letter Z were glued to the edges of the shelves. Bundles of orders bound with new string lay on the shelves.