MAHOGANY
439
"Out of my sight, scoundrels!" barked Karazin once more,
the blood rushing to his face.
His wife appeared at the shout. The Bezdetov brothers
bowed to Madame Karazin and left the room.
"Nadine, I cannot bear to see these rogues," Karazin said
to his wife.
"Very well, Vyacheslav. Go into the study and I'll talk with
them. You know the situation, Madame Karazin replied.
"They've disturbed my rest. Very well, I'll go to the study.
Only mind you, no familiarity with these menials."
Karazin left the room, trailing his squirrel jacket after him.
The Bezdetov brothers returned on his heels and once more they
bowed politely.
"Show us your Russian tapestries and tell us what you want
for the secretaire," said Pavel Feodorovich.
"Take a seat, gentlemen," said Madame Karazin.
The door of the study flew open and Karazin thrust his
head out. Averting his eyes to the windows-so that they should
not by accident fall upon the Bezdetovs-he shouted:
"Nadine, don't let them sit down! How can they possibly
understand the beauty of art! Don't offer them a choice! Sell
them only what we see fit to sell! Let them have the porcelain,
the porcelain clock and the bronze stuff! ..."
"We can leave, if you like," said Pavel Feodorovich.
"Oh, just a minute, gentlemen. Allow Vyacheslav Pavlovich
to calm down, he's very ill," said Madame Karazin, sitting down
helplessly at the table. "Oh dear, gentlemen, we simply have to
sell off a few things! ... Vyacheslav Pavlovich, I beg you, shut
the door, don't listen to us, go for a walk...."
In the evening, when the jackdaws had torn the day to
shreds and the falling bells had ceased their whine, the Bezdetov
brothers returned home and dined. After dinner Yakov Karpo–
vich went out on an expedition. In his pocket he had money and
a.list given to him by the Bezdetovs. The old man donned
his
