Here the manager jumped up and let out such a shout that Rimsky shuddered.

" I just remembered! I just remembered! There's a Crimean restaurant just opened up in Pushkino called the 'Yalta.' That solves everything! He must have gone there, had too much to drink, and started sending us telegrams! "

" This is really too much, " replied Rimsky, his cheek twitching and his eyes blazing with real fury. " Well, hell pay a heavy price for this little jaunt!..." He suddenly broke off and added hesitandy, " But what about the Criminal Investigation Department..."

" That's absurd! More of his little games, " interjected the affable Varenukha, who then asked, " So should I take this packet over anyway? "

" Absolutely, " answered Rimsky.

Again the door opened, and in walked the same woman... " She's back! " thought Rimsky with inexplicable anguish. And both of them stood up to meet her.

This time the telegram read as follows, " Thanks confirmation send me ASAP 500 rubles CID flying Moscow tomorrow Likhodeyev."

" He's lost his mind, " said Varenukha weakly.

But Rimsky jingled his key, took some money out of the safe, counted out 500 rubles, rang for the messenger, gave him the money and sent him off to the telegraph office.

" Good heavens, Grigory Danilovich, " said Varenukha, not believing his eyes. " If you ask my opinion, you're throwing the money away."

" It'll come back, " Rimsky replied softly, " and that little outing will cost him plenty." Then he added, pointing to Varenukha's briefcase, " Get going, Ivan Savelyevich, don't delay."

And Varenukha ran out of the office with the briefcase.

When he went downstairs, he saw an extremely long line at the box office and learned from the cashier that she expected to be sold out within the hour because the public had come in droves after seeing the additional playbills. Varenukha told the cashier to set aside thirty of the best seats in the orchestra and loges and then rushed out of the box office. After fighting off the obnoxious free-pass seekers, he ducked into his office to grab his cap. At that moment the phone rang.

" Yes! " shouted Varenukha.

" Ivan Savelyevich? " inquired the receiver in a loathsome nasal twang.

" He's not in the theater! " Varenukha was about to shout back, but the receiver immediately cut him off, " Don't play the fool, Ivan Savelyevich, just listen. Don't take those telegrams anywhere, and don't show them to anyone."

" Who is this speaking? " roared Varenukha. " Stop playing games, citizen! You'll be exposed! What's your number? "

Neu* /rom Yalta 93

" Varenukha, " sounded the same loathsome voice. " Do you understand Russian? Do not take those telegrams anywhere."

" So, you're not going to stop? " shouted the manager in a frenzy. " Well, you better watch outl You'll pay for this! " He shouted yet another threat, but then stopped because he sensed that there was no longer anyone listening to him on the line.