Now, how could an old Genie who had spent so many years in prison know such a scholarly term as “a matter of principle”? However, the sigh his young saviour heaved to accompany his sad and honourable words convinced Hottabych that Volka ibn Alyosha needed his help more than ever before.

“Your refusal grieves me,” Hottabych said. “After all, no one will notice me prompting you.”

“Ha!” Volka said bitterly. “You don’t know what keen ears our teacher Varvara Stepanovna has.”

“You not only upset me, you now offend me, O Volka ibn Alyosha! If Hassan Abdurrakhman ibn Hottab says that no one will notice, it means no one will notice!”

“Not a single soul?” Volka asked again, just to make sure.

“Not a single soul. The words which I will have the pleasure of telling you will go straight from my deferential lips to your greatly respected ears.”

“I really don’t know what to do, Hassan Hottabych,” Volka said sighing, as though with reluctance. “I really hate to upset you by refusing. All right, have your own way! Geography isn’t Math or Grammar. I’d never agree to even the tiniest prompt in those subjects, but since geography isn’t really the most important subject… Come on, let’s hurry!” He looked at the old man’s unusual clothing with a critical eye. “Hm-m-m… D’you think you could change into something else, Hassan Hottabych?”

“Don’t my garments please your gaze, O most noble of Volkas?” Hottabych asked unhappily.

“Sure they do, they certainly do,” Volka answered diplomatically. “But you’re dressed … if you know what I mean… Our styles are a little bit different… Your clothes will attract too much attention.”

“But how do respectable, honourable gentlemen of advanced age dress nowadays?”

Volka tried to explain what a jacket, trousers and a hat were, but though he tried very hard, he wasn’t very successful. He was about to despair, when he suddenly glanced at his grandfather’s portrait on the wall. He led Hottabych over to the time-darkened photograph and the old man gazed long at it with curiosity, surprised to see clothing so unlike his own.