A sudden idea at last illumined his dark little brain…. And without the slightest delay he put it into execution.
An acquaintance met him on the street and began to praise a well-known artist…. "Good gracious!" exclaimed the fool, "that artist was relegated to the archives long ago…. Don't you know that?—I did not expect that of you…. You are behind the times."
The acquaintance was frightened, and immediately agreed with the fool.
"What a fine book I have read to-day!" said another acquaintance to him.
"Good gracious!" cried the fool.—"Aren't you ashamed of yourself? That book is good for nothing; everybody dropped it in disgust long ago.—Don't you know that?—You are behind the times."
And that acquaintance also was frightened and agreed with the fool.
"What a splendid man my friend N. N. is!" said a third acquaintance to the fool.—"There's a truly noble being for you!"
"Good gracious!"—exclaimed the fool,—"it is well known that N. N. is a scoundrel! He has robbed all his relatives. Who is there that does not know it? You are behind the times."
The third acquaintance also took fright and agreed with the fool, and renounced his friend. And whosoever or whatsoever was praised in the fool's presence, he had the same retort for all.
He even sometimes added reproachfully: "And do you still believe in the authorities?"