"Well," I said, "what an invitingly comfortable-looking room! Anybody ought to sleep and work well in such a one."
"Ah!" said Harel, "I am indeed enchanted that it pleases you."
"Why?"
"Because it is for you."
"How for me?"
"It is yours; and as you will not leave it until you have written me my Napoléon, I had to make things as comfortable as I could for you, to prevent your being in a bad temper during your imprisonment"
A shiver passed over me from head to foot.
"Harel!" I exclaimed, "don't let us have any foolish tricks, my friend!"
"Exactly so. You made a big mistake in not starting the work when I first asked you.... And I made just as stupid a mistake in not giving it to someone else to write ... but I had spoken to you; and I keep my word. I therefore think we have both shown ourselves quite stupid enough for two men of intellectual attainment, and it is high time we came to our senses once more."
"Come now! you cannot be thinking what you are doing! I have not even the very faintest plan drawn up for your Napoléon."