'We are only doing what is an absolute necessity,' Professor Colaneri replied, repeating aloud the excuse with which he had been soothing his conscience for some days.
'It is impossible to go on any longer like this,' the doctor remarked in a dull voice; then he lighted a cigar to try and look at his ease, but he did not manage it: he let the match go out.
'The report made against me to the governors is frightful,' said Colaneri in a whisper, with his eyes down. 'I have a lot of enemies—lads I ploughed in the examinations, you know. They reported me to the President of the University as having sold the exercises to some students. They put down the names, too....'
'How could they know all that?' the doctor asked slowly.
'Who can tell? I have so many enemies. The President made a dreadful report; I am threatened....'
'With being turned out?'
'Not only that; there is to be a lawsuit....'
'You don't say so?'
'I have so many enemies, Trifari. It is a serious threat. How will I be able to prove my innocence?'
'You have sold these exercises, then?' the doctor muttered cynically, throwing away his cigar.