ble chance has brought us together! Why,
I'm just journeying to K----about the sale of a certain forest country
house. Suppose you do that, then,--drop in to see me. I always stop at
the Grand Hotel. Perhaps we may be able to strike up a deal."

"Oh, I'm already almost sure, my dearest Joseph Ivanovich!" exclaimed
the rejoicing Horizon, and slightly, with the very tips of his fingers,
patted Vengjenovski's kneecap carefully. "You just rest assured; if
Horizon has undertaken anything, then you'll be thanking him like your
own father, no more, no less."

Half an hour later Simon Yakovlevich and the smooth-faced
sub-lieutenant were standing on the platform of the car and smoking.

"Do you often visit K----, mister sub-lieutenant?" asked Horizon.

"Only for the first time--just imagine! Our regiment is stationed at
Chernobob. I was born in Moscow, myself."

"AI, AI, AI! How'd you come to get into such a faraway place?"

"Well, it just fell out so. There was no other vacancy when I was let
out."

"But then--Chernobob is a hole! The worst little town in all Podolia."

"That's true, but it just fell out so."

"That means, then, that the young officer gent is going to K----to
divert himself a little?"

"Yes. I'm thinking of stopping there for two or three days. I'm
travelling to Moscow, really. I have received a two months' leave, but
it would be interesting to look over the city on the way. It's very
beautiful, they say."

"Oh, what are you trying to tell me? A remarkable city! Well,
absolutely a European city. If you only knew, what streets,
electricity, trolleys, theatres! And if you only knew what cabarets!
You'll lick your own fingers. Positively, positively, I advise you,
young man, to pay a visit to the CHATEAU DES FLEURS, to the Tivoli, and
also to ride out to the island. That's something special. What women,
wha-a-at women!"

The lieutenant turned red, took his eyes away, and asked in a voice
that quavered:

"Yes, I've happened to hear that. Is it possible that they're really so
handsome?"

"Oi! Strike me God! Believe me, there are no handsome women there at
all."

"But--how's that?"

"Why, this way: there are only raving beauties there. You
understand--what a happy blending of bloods! Polish, Little Russian,
and Hebrew. How I envy you, young man, that you're free and alone. In
my time I sure would have shown myself! And what's most remarkable of
all, they're unusually passionate women! Well, just