“Wait,” I said. “I’ll go for some money.”
But he caught my arm almost familiarly.
“Yes, yes,” he began, “that’s not it.”
“What then?”
“Yes, yes, he cured me, you understand. So it’s to learn, yes, to learn how he is.”
Full of gratitude he had come for information. I spoke more gently, as I replied:
“Always the same, friend.”
“Ah, ah! yes, yes, so much the worse.”
I wondered why he did not go. Did he after all, hope for a little money? Suddenly, like a stammerer who has succeeded in getting hold of his words, and makes the most of it, he thrust his face close to mine, exclaiming:
“He—he—he was a man! Yes, yes.”