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On reaching home, continued the secretary, she took to her bed, and give birth to two children, who proved to be of the male sex. Great laughter now burst forth. Very good. But how about the mother? The mother and her children are in the best possible health. As a result of the investigation which followed, Tzelikoff was exonerated from all responsibility. Let him vote, then! was the cry on all sides. It would be too severe to deprive this man of his rights as an elector. He has suggested a new means of assisting nature. What you say is quite true. And, by the way, how is your mare? Has she foaled? Oh! I have sold her to a horse-dealer. But you have not heard of the adventure? Silence, silence there! shouted an usher. Pavel Ivanovitch Tchitchikoff, councillor of state, now read the secretary, accused of forgery in connection with a will. Ah! for a nobleman that is rather bad. Exclude him! exclude him! Hey? W-w-w-hat? H-h-how? said the noble with the painful stammer. F-f-f-f-f-for-gery in precious stones and di-di-di-di-a-monds? Are you deaf? retorted a neighbour. You were told, for forgery in connection with a will. Ha, ha! I un-understand it. Vari-ous messes. In the e-e-e-lec-tions? But how did it con-con-cern the tri-tri-bu-nals? resumed the stammering gentleman, who was a bit of a fool. Hush-sh-sh-sh! Silence I beg of you! now said the marshal of the province. Accused of forgery, in connection with a will, and of having purchased from divers noble owners of inhabited estates a number of deceased peasant-serfs, dead souls, with and without the land they occupied. After due investigation, however, Pavel Ivanovitch Tchitchikoff was released as not guilty. What? What? Dead souls? Yes, he was accused of having purchased dead soulssomething absurd, eh? Wh-wh-a-at? He pur-pur-chased the-e-e will of a de-de-ad wo-wo-man? said the deaf gentleman who stammered. Ah, my dear sir, how tiresome you are! Why, open your ears! I answer you for the last time: he purchased some thousands of dead souls. Did you say dead souls? Ah, good heavens! it is impossible to hear; it is a perfect Babel here. How scandalous! I shall take my departure; the secretary reads one thing, and then the people talk of another. Not at all. This is the exact fact: he appropriated a large inheritance, and purchased several ancient cemeteries with the money. Impossible! |
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