"Montanus, indeed!" said the melancholy man, sitting down again. "Montanus is my man: he has a large understanding. I say, Gustav, what's the name, I mean the nickname, by which these theatrical blackguards call me? Tell me! You needn't be afraid."
"I'd rather not, sir; it's very ugly."
"Why not if you can please me by doing so? Don't you think I could do with a little cheering up? Do I look so frightfully gay? Out with it! What do they say when they ask you whether I have been here? Don't they say: Has...."
"The devil...."
"Ah, the devil! They hate me, don't they?"
"Yes, they do!"
"Good! But why? Have I done them any harm?"
"No, they can't say that, sir."
"No, I don't think they can."
"But they say that you ruin people, sir."