AN EARTHQUAKE
267
Theatre company left for Yalta. The company intend to stay in the Crimea until the beginning of the winter season in Moscow.
- Well, what did I tell you ? ’ said Hippolyte.
' What did you tell me ? ’ snapped Bender. How ever, he was worried. He did not like the mistake he had made, for it meant that instead of ending their search for the diamonds in Tiflis, they would have to go to the Crimea. Bender set to work at once, took tickets for Batum, and booked second-class passages on the steamer Pestel, which was due to leave Batum for Odessa on September 7th at 23 o’clock, by Moscow time. Three days later, as the Pestel was being tossed about on the Black Sea, Hippolyte had a bad dream. He dreamt that he was dressed in his admiral’s suit and was standing on the balcony of his Stargorod horne. He knew that the crowd waiting below was expecting something from him, when suddenly a large crane swung over and dropped a black pig at his feet. Then the porter, Tikhon, appeared in a well-cut suit and, seizing the black pig by its hind legs, said ; It s no use ! The Nymphs never provide fringes.’ Hippolyte suddenly discovered that he was holding a dagger in his hand. He thrust it into the pig’s back and diamonds poured out of the deep wound and began to jump about on the balcony. Louder and louder they rattled, until the noise was so terrifying and intolerable that Hippo lyte woke up and heard the wind howling and roaring over the ship. The sea was raging. They approached Yalta in glorious sunshine and Hippolyte soon recovered from sea-sickness. He could see little shops and restaurants on the shore and a row of cabs, motor-cars, and buses that were lined up by the landing-stage. The two friends were the first to come down the gangway. At the sight of Hippolyte and Bender, a man m a
