"It was none that you paid for, at all events," was the quick retort. "No matter; I was among my own countrymen: they are civil; they are not niggardly."
"They can afford to spend," said the other, laughing sardonically, "out of the plunder they take from others."
"They have fought for what they have," the other said, hotly. "Your countrymen—what have they ever done? Have they fought? No; they have conspired, and then run away."
But Beratinsky was much too cool-blooded a man to get into a quarrel of this kind; besides, he noticed that Reitzei's speech was occasionally a little thick.
"I would advise you to go home and get to bed, friend Reitzei," said he.
"Not until I have said something to you, Mr. Beratinsky," said the other with mock politeness. "I have this to say, that your ways of late have been a little too uncivil; you have been just rather too insolent, my good friend. Now I tell you frankly it does not do for one in your position to be uncivil and to make enemies."
"For one in my position!" Beratinsky repeated, in a tone of raillery.
"You think it is a joke, then, what happened to-night?"
"Oh, that is what you mean; but if that is my position, what other is yours, friend Reitzei?"
"You pretend not to know. I will tell you: that was got up between you and Lind; I had nothing to do with it."