“Because the philological race is the most stupid under Heaven,” said the man in black; “they are possessed, it is true, of a certain faculty for picking up words, and a memory for retaining them; but that any one of the sect should be able to give a rational answer, to say nothing of an acute one, on any subject—even though the subject were philology—is a thing of which I have no idea.”
“But you found me giving a lesson in Armenian to this handmaid?”
“I believe I did,” said the man in black.
“And you heard me give what you are disposed to call acute answers to the questions you asked me?”
“I believe I did,” said the man in black.
“And would any one but a philologist think of giving a lesson in Armenian to a handmaid in a dingle?”
“I should think not,” said the man in black.
“Well, then, don’t you see that it is possible for a philologist to give not only a rational, but an acute answer?”
“I really don’t know,” said the man in black.
“What’s the matter with you?” said I.