[92] "I want to talk in Hungarian."
"Akarok," I good-humouredly corrected him.
"No! no! Akarok is the indefinite mood, akarom the definite mood; and I want to speak Hungarian definitely."
I was forced to acknowledge to myself that his logic was stronger than his grammar.
"I was born in Leutomischl"[93]—here he let his head fall regretfully on his breast.
[93] A Bohemian town. He meant by this that he belonged to Czech officials who had been forced upon Hungary.—Tr.
I with corresponding pantomime replied that that need not make any difference between us.
"My father was"—here with both hands he took aim with an imaginary gun.
It now occurred to me why he made all these gestures. Such is often the way with those who have taught themselves a foreign language without a master, and cannot find quickly enough the word they want. I hastened to his assistance.
"A forester?"