"
"But mit vat kann you rebroach him?"
"You have a monster of ingratitude for a friend, sir; if he is still
alive, it is because nothing kills ill weeds. People do well to
mistrust artists; they are as mischievous and spiteful as monkeys.
This friend of yours tried to dishonor his own family, and to blight a
young girl's character, in revenge for a harmless joke. I wish to have
nothing to do with him; I shall do my best to forget that I have known
him, or that such a man exists. All the members of his family and my
own share the wish, sir, so do all the persons who once did the said
Pons the honor of receiving him."
"Boot, mennseir, you are a reasonaple mann; gif you vill bermit me, I
shall exblain die affair--"
"You are quite at liberty to remain his friend, sir, if you are minded
that way," returned Cardot, "but you need go no further; for I must
give you warning that in my opinion those who try to excuse or defend
his conduct are just as much to blame."
"To chustify it?"
"Yes, for his conduct can neither be justified nor qualified." And
with that word, the deputy for the Seine went his way; he would not
hear another syllable.
"I have two powers in the State against me," smiled poor Pons, when
Schmucke had repeated these savage speeches.
"Eferpody is against us," Schmucke answered dolorously. "Let us go
avay pefore we shall meed oder fools."
Never before in the course of a truly ovine life had Schmucke uttered
such words as these.
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