LYRICAL DIGRESSION.
In big and even a huge office (where all was huge - armchairs, electric light, a table, the windows curtained by titanic
portieres, Lenin's portrait in all wall) - were two small little men, similar something against each other: both were grey, with the
rare grey hair combed back, with the cheeks for ever spoilt with a smallpox, only one of them easy stood at a table, and its
person was motionless, and another - sat there and then, at the same table, in a huge armchair, and everything, together
with the person, painfully twitched, as if the armchair burnt to it a bum. Whether to rise to it it would be desirable a hand on
seams, whether to decrease to zero, in general to disappear and appear in other any place, and its thought as feverishly and
painfully twitched, as he. He, certainly, vgluhuju was silent and in general tried not to breathe. Also was silent (long,) the
second person intolerably long was silent - looked in a pier between windows, in anywhere as if guessed that, having looked
at the little man in an armchair, can is unintentional ub---- it its this sight. Then he has told, is silent and almost illegible: - There
is an opinion that it is necessary to give a good gift to our friend and the ally to mister Roosevelt. To me have informed that it
the philatelist. Occupies - sja with philately. It is the truth, companion Epanchin? - So it is exact, companion Stalin! - the little
man in an armchair poperhnulsja also has convulsively cleared the throat. - excuse... Also say that - the passionate philatelist!
There has come new long, iznurjajushche a long, painful pause.
And what it means - "philately"? - Collecting of stamps, companion Stalin. For the purpose of them is nirovanija, and also...
I know it. I ask: what is this word means - "fi-la-those-lija"? In what language? Is Greek, companion Stalin. And transfer... As
though it will more precisely be expressed... Literally? - It is final. Is better literally.
"Dislike for post payment"... Probably, so will be most exact.
How you have told? - "Dislike for post payment", companion Stalin. And is even more exact: "Love to non-payment of post
gathering"...
The standing person has told with surprise: - Nonsense any... - He has kept silent and has added: - And in general
employment silly. The adult, clever person, the politician, and is engaged glupostja - mi. - He has again kept silent. - and can
be, it any not clever? Perhaps, all only consider, what it clever, and actually - a fool? And he has laughed - silently, cheerfully
and unexpectedly as if the world renowned portrait has laughed suddenly. And as unexpectedly again has grown dark.
And how you think, the Soviet marks at it in a collection are? - I think that is, companion Stalin. I think that at it very good
collection of the Soviet marks.
All Soviet marks at it are? - I think that is not present, companion Stalin. I think, all Soviet marks at anybody on light are not
present.
Why? - There are rarities which only five-six pieces it is known, and even it is less.
It is good. It is very good. Your problem is defined. It is necessary to collect a full collection of the Soviet marks, and we will
present to its mister Roosevelt. How you think, it will be happy? - He will be delighted, companion Stalin. But it is impossible.
Why? - It is impossible to collect a full collection...
Consider that this party commission, companion Epanchin. It is necessary to collect. Term - one month. We think, it will be
enough.
Address to companion Berija. It also will help with a course.
I obey, companion Stalin, - has told small little man Epanchin, obmiraja for horror.