"Yes. Am I doing only what any one else can do as well? Would it be
better perhaps if another were here?"
"No, certainly not," I answered warmly. "Your business training is of
the greatest value to us. Molozov has said to me 'that he does not
know what we should do without you.'"
(This was not strictly true.)
"Ah!" the little man was greatly pleased. "I am glad, very glad--to
hear what you say. Semyonov made me feel--"
"You should not be influenced," I hurriedly interrupted him, "by what
Semyonov thinks. It is of no importance."
"He has a bad character," Andrey Vassilievitch said suddenly with
great excitement, "a bad character. And why cannot he leave me alone?
Why should he laugh always? I do my best. I am quiet and not in his
way. I can do things that he cannot. I am not big as he but at least I
do not rob men of their women."
He was shaking with anger, his head trembling and his hands
quivering--it was difficult not to smile.
"You must not listen nor notice nor think of it," I said firmly.
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