 staking the old fool's apartment in the coming days,' Medvelov said. 'I convinced him to lay at my estate.'

Rising from his chair, Nekabov demanded: 'Who told you?'

'His mistress,' Iliosovy concluded.

'I can testify: Ivona Fyodorovicha is a ripe chatterbox after a romp,' purred Medvelov.

Iliosovy stomped the floor and cried: 'After what we discussed last week...you let him abscond? Explain yourself, man!'

'I've been pondering Vladimir's plight,' said the poet. 'He's speaks the truth, you know. Whether the threat is a lark or genuine, Bykal will tear him to shreds.'

' _I. Don't. Care_,' rumbled Iliosovy.

'Then think of it like this,' Medvelov said as he began pacing. 'Let's say Bykal believes everything Vladimir claimed; let's say Bykal demands Vladimir reveal his associates in the cabal; let's say Vladimir...under terrible duress, mind you...hacks our names. Don't say it's not a possibility; the mestnaya are known sadists.'

'You can't keep him hidden forever,' Nekabov said.

'Vladimir has brass,' Medvelov responded. 'I'll convince him to travel abroad or...er...look, I'll mastermind something. But we must mind our tongues, comrades.'

' _Mind our tongues_,' muttered Iliosovy.

Medvelov placed both hands on the table and thrust his face a whisker's length from Iliosovy. 'Simple as squashing an egg,' the poet said. 'In fact, I have a plan, so why don't you shut your mouth and quit worrying about matters beyond your control. You're starting to irritate me.'

Red faced, Iliosovy smushed his lips and stared at his hands.

Straightening his back, Medvelov continued: 'In twenty-two days, the governor's daughter is to be married. You can imagine the security, one because of the recent threats and two, the district police commissioner is the groom. What she sees in Petyor Vyskilovich...the imbecile. Worse, I'm obligated to attend
staking the old fool's apartment in the coming day,' Medvelov say.' I convinced him to lay at my estate.' 

 rise from his chair, Nekabov demanded:' Who order you?' 

' His schoolmarm,' Iliosovy concluded. 

' I can testify: Ivona Fyodorovicha is a ripe chatterbox after a romp,' purred Medvelov. 

 Iliosovy stomp the floor and cried:' After what we discussed last week... you lease him abscond? Explain yourself, man!' 

' I've been pondering Vladimir's plight,' said the poet.' He's talk the truth, you know. Whether the threat is a lark or actual, Bykal will tear him to shreds.' 

' _ I. sufficen't. Care _,' rumble Iliosovy. 

' Then think of it like this,' Medvelov said as he began pacing.' Let's allege Bykal believes everything Vladimir claimed; let's say Bykal demands Vladimir uncover his associates in the cabal; let's say Vladimir... under terrible duress, mind you... hacks our names. Don't say it's not a possibility; the mestnaya are know sadists.' 

' You can't keep him obscure everlastingly,' Nekabov said. 

' Vladimir has brass,' Medvelov respond.' I'll convince him to travel abroad or... er... look, I'll mastermind something. But we must mind our tongue, comrades.' 

' _ Mind our tongues _,' muttered Iliosovy. 

 Medvelov placed both hands on the board and thrust his face a whisker's length from Iliosovy.' childlike as squashing an testis,' the poet say.' In fact, I have a plan, so why don't you exclude your mouth and quit worrying about matter beyond your control. You're starting to irritate me.' 

 Red faced, Iliosovy smushed his brim and stared at his hand. 

 Straightening his back, Medvelov cover:' In twenty - two days, the governor's daughter is to be marry. You can imagine the security system, one because of the recent threats and two, the district police commissioner is the stableman. What she sees in Petyor Vyskilovich... the imbecile. Worse, I'm obligated to attend
 stwking the old fool's aparument in the comiut days,' Medvemov said. 'I convinced him to lay at mb esrate.'

Rusing from his chair, Ndkabov delanded: 'Wyo tiod you?'

'His mistress,' Ilioskyy coucouded.

'I can tesjify: Ivona Ffodorovicha is a rnpe chatterbox after a romp,' purred Mqdvelov.

Ollosovy stomped the slood and cried: 'After what we discusses last xeek...you let him abscond? Explain yourself, lan!'

'I'ge been pondering Gladimir's poighe,' said the podt. 'He's speaks the trutg, you know. Whether the threat ir a lcrk or genuunw, Bjnal will teer him to shreds.'

' _I. Don't. Case_,' rumbked Iliosovy.

'Thcn thmnk if it like this,' Medvenov said as he begwn pacing. 'Lzt's say Bykal believew wveryjhing Vlaaumif cmammes; let's sab Bykal demznds Vladimur reveal his assocoaevx in the cabzl; let'f fay Vladimir...under terrible duress, mind jou...hzcks our names. Don't say it's not a possibiliti; the mestgaya are known sadists.'

'You can't keep him hidden fosever,' Vekcnjx swid.

'Vladimir has brass,' Medvelov responded. 'I'll sknfikce him to travej abroad or...rr...poph, I'll mastermknd sometging. But we must mlnd our tongyes, comraqes.'

' _Kind our tongues_,' muttered Ioiosovy.

Medvejiv placed both hanbs on the tayle anc thrist his face a whisker's lenfth from Illosovy. 'Sijole as squashing an ecg,' the poet said. 'In fact, I have a poan, xo why aon't you srut your mluth and quit worrying ahout ladters beyojd your control. You're starting vp irritate mg.'

Reg fdced, Ilijsovy smushed his jips and stareb at his handr.

Straightehing hiv back, Medvqlov continueg: 'In twenty-twm days, tre giverbor's dajehter is to be married. Job can imatine the security, pne gecause of the xtcebt threats and ywo, thq fixtwhct police cmmmirsiumer ir the groom. Dhat she sees in Petyor Eyskjlovich...the imbecilr. Rorse, I'm obligatqd to attend
staking the old fool's apartment in the Medvelov 'I convinced to lay at chair, demanded: 'Who told 'His mistress,' Iliosovy 'I can testify: Ivona Fyodorovicha is ripe chatterbox after a romp,' purred Medvelov. Iliosovy stomped the floor and cried: what we discussed last week...you let him abscond? Explain yourself, man!' 'I've been Vladimir's said poet. speaks the truth, you know. Whether the threat is a lark or genuine, Bykal will tear to shreds.' ' _I. Don't. Care_,' rumbled Iliosovy. think of it like Medvelov said as he began 'Let's Bykal believes Vladimir let's Bykal demands Vladimir his associates in the cabal; let's say Vladimir...under terrible duress, mind you...hacks our names. Don't say it's a possibility; are known 'You keep hidden forever,' Nekabov has brass,' Medvelov responded. 'I'll convince abroad or...er...look, I'll mastermind something. But we must our tongues, ' _Mind our tongues_,' muttered Iliosovy. placed both hands on the table and thrust face a whisker's length from Iliosovy. 'Simple as squashing an egg,' the poet said. 'In have a plan, so don't you shut mouth quit about beyond your You're starting to irritate me.' Red faced, Iliosovy smushed his lips stared at his hands. Straightening his back, Medvelov continued: 'In the daughter is to married. You can imagine security, because of the recent two, district the What sees in Petyor Vyskilovich...the Worse, I'm obligated to attend
 staking the old fool's apartmeNt in the comIng daYs,' MEdvElOv saId. 'I cOnvinced him to lAY at mY estate.'

Rising from his chAir, NeKaBOv deMAnDed: 'WhO told yoU?'

'hiS MIstReSs,' iliOsOVy ConclUdeD.

'I can teStify: Ivona fyoDoRovicha is a riPE cHatterbox aFteR a romp,' purred medVelov.

ILiOsoVY stomPed The flOor and CRied: 'AfTer what we DiSCussed LAst week...YOU lEt hiM abscond? Explain yoURsELf, man!'

'I've been poNderinG VLAdIMIr's PliGht,' said the PoEt. 'He's SPeaks thE TrUTH, You KNow. Whether the Threat is a laRK or GenuinE, BYkaL Will teAr him To SHreDs.'

' _I. Don't. Care_,' RumbLed IliosoVy.

'Then THink of iT Like thiS,' MedveLov SaiD as hE BeGaN paCiNG. 'LeT'S sAy BYKal Believes EvErYthinG VlaDIMIR claImeD; let'S say BYkal demands VlAdiMir rEVeaL his aSsociAtes In The caBal; let'S say VLaDimir...under terriBle dUress, mind You...HaCks OuR nameS. don't saY it'S noT a possiBility; tHE meStNAYA aRe known sadists.'

'You cAn'T KEeP him hiddEn foreVEr,' neKAbov said.

'vlAdiMir hAS Brass,' medvELoV respondEd. 'I'll cONvInCe him to TrAvel abRoAd oR...er...Look, I'LL masTerminD somethiNg. But WE must mind our toNGues, comrades.'

' _MINd OUR tONgueS_,' muTtered IliosOvy.

MEDvelOv plACeD boTH handS on thE tABlE And thrust his face a whIsKer's leNgth fRom Iliosovy. 'SiMple as squaSHINg an egg,' tHe poET sAId. 'In fact, I have a Plan, sO why don't yoU Shut your Mouth And quit wOrrying abOUT matters BeyOnd YouR coNTRoL. You're startinG TO irrItAte me.'

ReD faCed, IlioSovY smUshEd hIs Lips and stAred at hiS hAnDs.

stRaiGhtenINg his bacK, MEdvElOv cOntinUEd: 'In twEnty-tWo daYs, ThE GovErnor's dAUgHTEr is To Be MarrIed. yoU can iMagiNE thE securiTy, one becaUse OF the ReCeNt threaTs and two, the diStRict police CoMmiSsioneR IS the grooM. What she sees in Petyor VysKIlovich...The ImbecIle. WOrse, I'm oblIgaTed to aTteND
 staking the old fool's ap artment in  thecom ing  d ays, ' Me dvelov said. ' I  con vinced him to lay at m y est at e .'
R is ing f rom his ch a i r,Ne ka bov  d e ma nded:  'W ho told  you?'

'H ismi stress,' Ili o so vy conclud ed. 

'I can tes tif y: Ivo na  Fy o dorov ich a isa ripe chatte rbox afte ra  romp, '  purred M ed velo v.

Iliosovy stom p ed the floor andcried:  ' A ft e r  wh atwe discuss ed  last week... y ou l e t h i m abscond? Ex plain yours e lf,  man!' 
'I' v e been  pond er i ngVladimir'splig ht,' said  the p o et. 'He ' s speak s thetru th,  you kn ow . W he t her th e t h rea t is a l ar kor ge nuin e , B ykal  wi ll t ear h im to shreds. '
' _I .  Do n't.Care_ ,' r um bledIlioso vy.
'T hen think of it  lik e this,'Med ve lov  s aid a s  he be gan  pa cing. ' Let's s a y B yk a l be lieves everythingVl a d im ir claim ed; le t 's  s a y Bykalde man ds V l a dimir  rev e al  his ass ociate s  i nthe cab al ; let' ssay  Vl adimi r ...u nder t erribledures s , mind you...h a cks our names .  D o n 't sayit' s not a pos sibi l ity;  the me stn a ya ar e kno wn sa d ists.'

'You can'tke ep him  hidd en forever,'Nekabov sa i d . 

'Vladi mirh as brass,' Medvel ov re sponded. ' I 'll conv incehim to t ravel abr o a d or...e r.. .lo ok,  I' l l  m astermind som e t hing .But wemus t mindour  to ngu es,  c omrades.' 

' _Min dou rto ngu es_,' muttered  I lio so vy. 

Med v elov p laced  bot hha n dson thet ab l e  and  t hr usthis  f ace a  whi s ker 's leng th from I lio s ovy.  ' Si mple as  squashing an  e gg,' the p oe t s aid. ' I n  fact, I  have a plan, so why do n 't youshu t you r mo uth and q uit  worry ing aboutmatter s bey on d y o u r con t r ol . Y ou 're starti n g  to  irri ta te m e.'

Re d faced, Iliosovys mus hed his lipsand  sta r e dath is han ds . 

S t r aightening hisback, Medv el o vcontinued: 'In  t wenty-t wo days , the governo r's daugh ter is to  b e ma r r ied . You canimaginethe secur i ty, o n ebecau seof the  r ece nt th reatsa ndtwo,the di st rict p olice  c ommissio ner is the groom. Whatshe se es in  Pe tyor Vysk ilo v ich ...the im beci le. Worse,  I' m o bliga ted to at tend 
 staking_the old_fool's apartment in the_coming days,'_Medvelov_said. 'I_convinced_him to lay_at my estate.'

Rising_from his chair, Nekabov_demanded: 'Who told_you?'

'His_mistress,' Iliosovy concluded.

'I can testify: Ivona Fyodorovicha is a ripe chatterbox after a romp,'_purred_Medvelov.

Iliosovy stomped_the_floor_and cried: 'After what we_discussed last week...you let him_abscond? Explain_yourself, man!'

'I've been pondering Vladimir's plight,' said the_poet._'He's speaks the_truth, you know. Whether the threat is a lark_or genuine, Bykal will tear him_to shreds.'

' _I._Don't._Care_,'_rumbled Iliosovy.

'Then think of_it like this,' Medvelov said as_he began pacing. 'Let's say Bykal_believes everything Vladimir claimed; let's say Bykal_demands Vladimir reveal his associates in_the cabal; let's say Vladimir...under_terrible duress,_mind you...hacks our names. Don't_say it's not_a possibility;_the mestnaya are_known sadists.'

'You can't keep him hidden_forever,' Nekabov said.

'Vladimir_has brass,' Medvelov responded. 'I'll convince_him_to travel abroad_or...er...look,_I'll_mastermind something._But we must_mind_our tongues,_comrades.'

'__Mind our tongues_,' muttered Iliosovy.

Medvelov placed_both_hands on the table and thrust his_face a whisker's length_from_Iliosovy. 'Simple as squashing_an egg,' the poet said._'In fact, I have a plan,_so why_don't you_shut your mouth and quit worrying about matters beyond your control._You're starting to irritate me.'

Red faced,_Iliosovy smushed his lips_and stared_at_his hands.

Straightening his_back,_Medvelov continued:_'In twenty-two days, the governor's daughter is_to be_married. You can imagine the security,_one because of the_recent_threats and two, the district police_commissioner is the groom. What she_sees in Petyor Vyskilovich...the imbecile._Worse,_I'm_obligated to attend