He wanted to be rich, extravagant and irresistible.
He wanted to captivate a beauty from the all-women orchestra and drink champagne with her in a private dining-room to the sound of music.
What was the use of talking to a girl who knew absolutely nothing about women's orchestras or wine, and who by nature would not appreciate the delights of that kind of life?
But he so much wanted to be attractive!
Ippolit Matveyevich enchanted Liza with his account of Paris.
"Are you a scientist?" asked Liza.
"Yes, to a certain extent,", replied Ippolit Matveyevich, feeling that since first meeting Bender he had regained some of the nerve that he had lost in recent years.
"And how old are you, if it's not an indiscreet question?"
"That has nothing to do with the science which I am at present representing."
Liza was squashed by the prompt and apt reply.
"But, anyway-thirty, forty, fifty?"
"Almost.
Thirty-seven."
"Oh!
You look much younger."
Ippolit Matveyevich felt happy.
"When will you give me the pleasure of seeing you again? " he asked through his nose.
Liza was very ashamed.
She wriggled about on her seat and felt miserable.
"Where has Comrade Bender got to?" she asked in a thin voice.
"So when, then?" asked Vorobyaninov impatiently. "When and where shall we meet?"
"Well, I don't know.
Whenever you like."
"Is today all right?"
"Today?"
"Please!"
"Well, all right.
Today, if you like.
Come and see us."
"No, let's meet outside.
The weather's so wonderful at present.
Do you know the poem
'It's mischievous May, it's magical May, who is waving his fan of freshness'?"
"Is that Zharov?"
"Mmm . . . I think so.
Today, then?
And where?"
"How strange you are.
Anywhere you like.
By the cabinet if you want.
Do you know it?
As soon as it's dark."
Hardly had Ippolit Matveyevich time to kiss Liza's hand, which he did solemnly and in three instalments, when Ostap returned.
He was very businesslike.
"I'm sorry, mademoiselle," he said quickly, "but my friend and I cannot see you home.
A small but important matter has arisen.
We have to go somewhere urgently."
Ippolit Matveyevich caught his breath.
"Good-bye, Elizabeth Petrovna," he said hastily. "I'm very, very sorry, but we're in a terrible hurry."
The partners ran off, leaving the astonished Liza in the room so abundantly furnished with Hambs chairs.