第362页 / 共2288页

"Ah, you shall hear.... We apologize in due form: we are in

despair, we entreat forgiveness for the unfortunate

misunderstanding. The government clerk with the sausages begins

to melt, but he, too, desires to express his sentiments, and as

soon as ever he begins to express them, he begins to get hot and

say nasty things, and again I'm obliged to trot out all my

diplomatic talents. I allowed that their conduct was bad, but I

urged him to take into consideration their heedlessness, their

youth; then, too, the young men had only just been lunching

together. 'You understand. They regret it deeply, and beg you to

overlook their misbehavior.' The government clerk was softened

once more.