"But you know that I sing badly."
"Yes, I know."
"Then I rested the oars and looked at her."
"Aha!"
"I looked, saying to myself: 'Here am I, young and strong, while you are languishing. Love me and make me happy.'"
"Was she feeling lonely?"
"Who that is not poor goes to a strange land if he feels merry?"
"Bravo!"
"I promise by the name of the Virgin Mary—I thought to myself—that I will be kind to you and that everybody shall be happy who lives near us."
"Well, well!" exclaimed the old man, throwing back his large head and bursting into loud bass laughter.