Woman in a cafe, place de l'Opéra. Paris, 1937-1938.

Source:
Paris en Images, copyright Gaston Paris / Roger-Viollet (RV-216498):
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Gaito Gazdanov's Paris / 28

Fedortchenko

[Another acquaintance who keeps crossing paths with the taxi driver is his fellow emigre Fedortchenko, whom he first met when they worked together in a factory. Fedortchenko is shallow, parsimonious and innocent of moral scruples.]

Some time ago he noticed that a woman in a fur coat came to the cafe at the same time every day with a splendid angora cat. Cats left Fedortchenko cold but his fiancee adored them, especially this particular breed. He therefore decided to steal the cat and give it to her as a present.

To this end he went to the bar with a valise – which he still had in his hand as he told me the story – and took advantage of a moment when the woman stepped outside to hide the cat in the valise and make his escape.

He had carried out this operation over several days, staking out the cafe, checking his watch, drinking beer until the woman went outside and no one else was sitting on the terrace.

She always preferred the terrace, but even though it was warm in the cafe and a stove was lit and most of the customers stayed inside, there was always some straggler hanging around.

This evening had finally been favourable; apart from Fedortchenko and the woman, there were only a couple of lovers kissing and paying no attention to what was going on around them.

He put his plan into effect. Unfortunately, on his way back, the valise popped open and the cat ran away with incredible speed. He chased it for a long time but in vain.

“It skedaddled, that son of a dog,” he burst out in sudden anger. “What do you think of that?” [59-60]