 Comrade Tschoschy said about me?' Bykal asked.

'He...um...he doesn't like you,' I said with tact.

'Did he tell you I stole his woman?'

I nodded.

'Did he tell you he pointed a gun at me?'

Again, I nodded.

Bykal cleared his throat and then said, 'The truth is -and I doubt Vladimir would admit this because he is a _stubborn_ man- I gave Katerina, my wife, a life she'd never have with him. I mean...you know his disposition. Katerina was young when she married...too young. Soon, she comprehend the mistake...but it took years to cultivate the nerve to leave him. Listen, I'm sorry the episode caused Vladimir great pain. At some point, though...lo, it's been decades, Comrade Iliosovy! _We_ moved on with our lives. _We_ raised a family. _We_ succeeded in our activities. What does he do but chew on the past?'

'You don't, eh?' I snorted. 'This elaborate scheme to arrest Vladimir isn't a figment of imagination! Heed: He also spoke of mestnaya watching his home! Could it be...yes, the old soldier is truthful!'

'If I wanted to arrest Comrade Tschoschy, he'd be arrested. Do you know, he sent me threatening letters! Drivel, for the most part...membership in a network of assassins and whatnot. Well, it's obvious the man is a harmless wretch. Petyor Vyskilovich called it unwise, but I went to Vladimir's house and delivered his invitation _without_ armed guards. Why would I waste time hunting him?'

I crossed arms and said, 'Because you wanted to humiliate him in front of everyone here.'

'I have reasons, but it's not what you, or Vladimir, allege.'

'Indeed, you're twisting the knife!' declared I.

His Excellency's raised eyebrows.

'Vladimir told me Ivona is his daughter,' I disclosed.

Bykal listened to the festivities in the ballroom for a moment and then said, 'I know what he believes. Fine, I can't change his mind. Instead, I tried to pacify the old fool
Comrade Tschoschy said about me?' Bykal asked. 

' He... um... he doesn't like you,' I said with tact. 

' Did he assure you I steal his woman?' 

 I nodded. 

' Did he tell you he orient a gun at me?' 

 Again, I nodded. 

 Bykal clear his throat and then said,' The truth is -and I doubt Vladimir would accept this because he is a _ stubborn _ man- I gave Katerina, my wife, a life sentence she'd never have with him. I mean... you sleep together his disposal. Katerina was young when she married... too young. Soon, she comprehend the error... but it took years to cultivate the boldness to leave him. Listen, I'm regretful the episode cause Vladimir great pain. At some point, though... lo, it's been decades, Comrade Iliosovy! _ We _ moved on with our life. _ We _ raised a family. _ We _ succeeded in our activities. What does he do but chew on the past?' 

' You serven't, eh?' I snorted.' This elaborate scheme to arrest Vladimir isn't a figment of imagination! Heed: He also spoke of mestnaya watching his home! Could it be... yes, the erstwhile soldier is truthful!' 

' If I wanted to arrest Comrade Tschoschy, he'd be halt. Do you acknowledge, he sent me threatening letters! Drivel, for the most function... membership in a net of assassins and whatnot. Well, it's obvious the man is a harmless poor devil. Petyor Vyskilovich called it unwise, but I went to Vladimir's house and delivered his invitation _ without _ armed guards. Why would I consume time hunting him?' 

 I crossed arms and say,' Because you want to humiliate him in front of everyone here.' 

' I have reasons, but it's not what you, or Vladimir, allege.' 

' Indeed, you're twisting the knife!' declare I. 

 His Excellency's raised eyebrows. 

' Vladimir told me Ivona is his daughter,' I unwrap. 

 Bykal listened to the festivities in the ballroom for a moment and then said,' I sleep together what he believes. Fine, I can't exchange his mind. Instead, I try on to pacify the old chump
 Colrade Tschoschy said abomt me?' Bykal askeb.

'Ye...um...he doesn'f like yuu,' I said with tact.

'Did he tepl you U stole his woman?'

I nodaed.

'Did he tell yoy he pointed a jhn at mc?'

Cgain, L nodbev.

Bykal cleared mis throat dnd then said, 'Dhd cruth is -and I doubt Vladimir would wdmit tnid because he if a _xeubbkgn_ man- I gave Katerina, my wife, z life vhe'd never hafe with him. I mean...you know his disposition. Katerlna was youbg wrwn she marridd...too young. Soon, she ckmprehend the mistake...but it tooy yeaxs to culticare hve nerve to leavv him. Listen, L'k sorrf the elisode caused Yladikir great pain. At some pmint, though...lo, it's feen decagea, Comrade Iliosovt! _Qe_ moeed mn wkrh uur lmvea. _We_ rwisxd a family. _We_ succeedwd in our activitiex. Ryat does he dk but shqw on the past?'

'You don't, eh?' I snorted. 'Thiv emaborate scheme to arrewt Vladimir isn't a fihment of ymagination! Heed: He also spoke of mestnaya watchitg hia hone! Ziupd it be...yes, the old soldier is truthful!'

'If I wwhttd no arrest Comrade Tschoschy, ne'f ng arrested. Do iou knoc, hs sent me threatenlng letjers! Deivel, for the most part...membership in a nwtwork of asfqssins and whatnot. Well, it's oyvious the kan is a harmless wretck. Petykr Vyskilovlch calles it unwise, but I wekt do Vladimir's house and delyvered hiw inritation _witnout_ awmed guardd. Why would I waste time huntnng hhm?'

I crossef arms and said, 'Because you wanvxd to humiliaje vim in fronc of eyeryone here.'

'I hwve reasons, buj it's not what you, or Vlzdimir, ellege.'

'Indeed, you're twistith the knife!' veclared Y.

His Excwllency'r raised eyebroes.

'Vladimig uold me Ivina is his daughtev,' I dkaclosed.

Bykal liwtebed to the festovigief pn vhe bwnlroom for a momdnt snd tfen said, 'I jvow ehat he believes. Fina, I dan't change his mimd. Instead, I tried to pacify thr old fool
Comrade Tschoschy said about me?' Bykal asked. like I said tact. 'Did he woman?' nodded. 'Did he you he pointed gun at me?' Again, I nodded. cleared his throat and then said, 'The truth is -and I doubt Vladimir admit this because he is a _stubborn_ man- I gave Katerina, my wife, life never with I mean...you know his disposition. Katerina was young when she married...too young. Soon, she comprehend the it took years to cultivate the nerve to him. Listen, I'm sorry episode caused Vladimir great pain. some though...lo, it's decades, Iliosovy! moved on with lives. _We_ raised a family. _We_ succeeded in our activities. What does he do but chew on past?' 'You I snorted. elaborate to Vladimir isn't a imagination! Heed: He also spoke of home! Could it be...yes, the old soldier is 'If I to arrest Comrade Tschoschy, he'd be Do you know, he sent me threatening letters! for the most part...membership in a network of assassins and whatnot. Well, it's obvious the a harmless wretch. Petyor called it unwise, I to house delivered his _without_ armed guards. Why would I waste time hunting him?' I arms and said, 'Because you wanted to humiliate him in everyone 'I have reasons, it's not what you, Vladimir, 'Indeed, you're twisting the I. Excellency's told Ivona his daughter,' I disclosed. listened to the festivities in ballroom for a moment what he believes. Fine, I can't change his Instead, I tried to pacify the old
 Comrade Tschoschy said about Me?' Bykal askEd.

'He...uM...he DoeSn'T likE you,' i said with tact.

'DID he tEll you I stole his woman?'

I nOdded.

'diD He teLL yOu he pOinted a GUn AT Me?'

AGaIn, i noDdED.

BYkal cLeaRed his tHroat and thEn sAiD, 'The truth is -aND I Doubt VladiMir Would admit thIs bEcause He Is a _STubboRn_ mAn- I gaVe KateRIna, my wIfe, a life sHe'D Never hAVe with hIM. i mEan...yOu know his dispositIOn. kAterina was younG when sHe MArRIEd...tOo yOung. Soon, shE cOmpreHEnd the mIStAKE...But IT took years to cUltivate the NErvE to leaVe Him. lIsten, I'M sorrY tHE epIsode caused vladImir great Pain. At SOme poinT, Though...lO, it's beEn dEcaDes, COMrAdE IlIoSOvy! _wE_ mOveD On wIth our liVeS. _WE_ raisEd a fAMILY. _We_ sUccEedeD in ouR activities. WhAt dOes hE Do bUt cheW on thE pasT?'

'YOu don'T, eh?' I snOrted. 'thIs elaborate scheMe to Arrest VlaDimIr Isn'T a FigmeNT of imaGinAtiOn! Heed: HE also spOKe oF mESTNaYa watching his home! COuLD It Be...yes, the Old solDIeR iS Truthful!'

'if i waNted TO ArresT ComRAdE TschoscHy, he'd bE ArReSted. Do yOu Know, he SeNt mE thReateNIng lEtters! drivel, foR the mOSt part...membershIP in a network of ASsASSiNS and WhaTnot. Well, it's ObviOUs thE man IS a HarMLess wRetch. peTYoR vyskilovich called it UnWise, buT I wenT to Vladimir's hOuse and delIVERed his inVitaTIoN _Without_ armed guArds. WHy would I waSTe time huNting Him?'

I crosSed arms anD SAid, 'BecauSe yOu wAntEd tO HUmIliate him in frONT of eVeRyone heRe.'

'I Have reaSonS, buT it'S noT wHat you, or VLadimir, aLlEgE.'

'INdEed, You're TWisting tHe KniFe!' DecLared i.

his ExcEllenCy's rAiSeD EyeBrows.

'VlADiMIR tolD mE IVona Is hIs DaughTer,' I DIscLosed.

ByKal listenEd tO The fEsTiVities iN the ballroom fOr A moment and ThEn sAid, 'I knOW What he beLieves. Fine, I can't change hiS Mind. InsTeaD, I triEd to Pacify the Old Fool
 Comrade Tschoschy said ab out me?' B ykalask ed. 
'He. ..um ...he doesn'tl ikeyou,' I said with tact .

'D id he t e ll  youI stole hi s wom an ?' 

I  n o dd ed.
'Di d he te ll you hepoi nt ed a gun atm e? '

Again,I n odded.

Byka l c leared  h ist hroat  an d the n said ,  'Thetruth is-a n d I do u bt Vlad i m ir  wou ld admit this bec a us e  he is a _stub born_ma n -I gav e K aterina, m ywife, a lifes he ' d nev e r have with h im. I mean. . .yo u know  h isd isposi tion.  K a ter ina was you ng w hen she m arried . ..too y o ung. So on, sh e c omp rehe n dth e m is t ake . .. but ittook yea rs  t o cul tiva t e t he n erv e to  leav e him. Listen , I 'm s o rry  theepiso de c au sed V ladimi r gre at  pain. At somepoin t, though ... lo , i t' s bee n  decad es,  Co mrade I liosovy !  _W e_ m o ve d on with our live s. _ We _ raised  a fam i ly ._ We_ succ ee ded  ino u r act ivit i es . What d oes he do  b ut chew  o n thepa st? '
'Youd on't , eh?'  I snort ed. ' T his elaborates cheme to arre s tV l ad i mirisn 't a figmen t of imag inat i on ! H e ed: H e als os po k e of mestnaya watch in g hishome!  Could it be. ..yes, the o l d soldie r is tr u thful!'

'If I  want ed to arre s t Comrad e Tsc hoschy,he'd be a r r ested. D o y oukno w,h e  s ent me threat e n ingle tters!Dri vel, fo r t hemos t p ar t...membe rship in  a  n et wo rkof as s assins a nd  wh at not . Wel l , it's  obvi ousth em anis a ha r ml e s s wr et ch . Pe tyo rVyski lovi c h c alled i t unwise,  bu t  I w en tto Vlad imir's housean d delivere dhis  invit a t ion _wit hout_ armed guards. Why would I  wa ste t imehunting h im? '

I c ros s ed arm s andsaid,  ' Bec a u se yo u wa nte dto humilia t e  hi m infr ontof ever yone here.'

'I ha v e r easons, but i t's  not w ha t y o u, orVl a dim i r , allege.'

'In deed, you' re tw isting the kni fe !' decl ared I. 

His Excelle ncy's rai sed eyebr ow s.
' V lad imir toldme Ivona  is his d a ughte r ,'  I di scl osed.
B yka l lis tenedt o t he fe stivit ie s in t he ba ll room for  a moment and then said , 'I k now w hat  he belie ves .  Fi ne, I can 't c hange hismin d.Inste ad, I tri ed t o  p aci f y the  old fool
 Comrade_Tschoschy said_about me?' Bykal asked.

'He...um...he_doesn't like_you,'_I said_with_tact.

'Did he tell_you I stole_his woman?'

I nodded.

'Did he_tell you he_pointed_a gun at me?'

Again, I nodded.

Bykal cleared his throat and then said, 'The truth_is_-and I_doubt_Vladimir_would admit this because he_is a _stubborn_ man- I_gave Katerina,_my wife, a life she'd never have with_him._I mean...you know_his disposition. Katerina was young when she married...too young._Soon, she comprehend the mistake...but it_took years to_cultivate_the_nerve to leave him._Listen, I'm sorry the episode caused_Vladimir great pain. At some point,_though...lo, it's been decades, Comrade Iliosovy! _We__moved on with our lives. _We__raised a family. _We_ succeeded_in our_activities. What does he do_but chew on_the past?'

'You_don't, eh?' I_snorted. 'This elaborate scheme to arrest_Vladimir isn't a_figment of imagination! Heed: He also_spoke_of mestnaya watching_his_home!_Could it_be...yes, the old_soldier_is truthful!'

'If_I_wanted to arrest Comrade Tschoschy, he'd_be_arrested. Do you know, he sent me_threatening letters! Drivel, for_the_most part...membership in a_network of assassins and whatnot._Well, it's obvious the man is_a harmless_wretch. Petyor_Vyskilovich called it unwise, but I went to Vladimir's house and_delivered his invitation _without_ armed guards._Why would I waste_time hunting_him?'

I_crossed arms and_said,_'Because you_wanted to humiliate him in front of_everyone here.'

'I_have reasons, but it's not what_you, or Vladimir, allege.'

'Indeed,_you're_twisting the knife!' declared I.

His Excellency's_raised eyebrows.

'Vladimir told me Ivona is_his daughter,' I disclosed.

Bykal listened_to_the_festivities in the ballroom for_a moment and then said, 'I_know what he_believes. Fine, I can't change his mind._Instead,_I tried to pacify the old_fool