It was not in vain
that on the day when on the Bessarabian Square the cossacks, meat-
sellers, flour dealers and fish mongers were massacring the
students, Simeon having scarce found it out had jumped into a fine
carriage passing by, and, standing just like a chief of police in
the victoria, tore off to the scene of the fray in order to take
part in it. He esteemed people who were sedate, stout and elderly,
who came singly, in secret, peeped in cautiously from the ante-
room into the drawing room, fearing to meet with acquaintances,
and very soon and with great haste went away, tipping him
generously. Such he always styled "Your Excellency."
And so, while taking the light grey overcoat off Yarchenko, he
sombrely and with much significance snarled back in answer to
Lichonin's banter:
"I am no citizen here, but the bouncer."
"Upon which I have the honour to congratulate you," answered
Lichonin with a polite bow.
There were many people in the drawing room. The clerks, having
danced their fill, were sitting, red and wet, near their ladies,
rapidly fanning themselves with their handkerchiefs; they smelt
strongly of old goats' wool.
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