“It was witty——”
“Yes, but a young man may not be witty at the expense of a General.”
“You must bear in mind that he was then very young—it was fourteen years ago—he was only twenty years old.”
“And then the turkey which he stole?”
“That he did to annoy the General.”
“Exactly so. A young man may not annoy a General, especially one who is, as civil governor, his superior——the epigram I think very funny——but then again that duelling——”
“He did it generally on behalf of another; he always was the champion of the weak.”
“Well, let every one fight for himself, if fighting there must be. As for me, I think that a duel is seldom necessary; if necessary, I should accept it, but——to make a [[82]]custom of it——I’d rather not. I hope that he is changed in this respect——”
“To be sure, there is no doubt about that. He is now so much older, has long been a married man, and Assistant Resident. Moreover, I have always heard that his heart is good, and that he has a strong sense of justice.”
“Then he is just fit for Lebak——something happened this morning that——Do you think that the Regent understands us?”