"
"But you have actually ordered it," replied the waiter, in a state
of excitement.
"My friend," I replied, and seized myself behind the ear, a place
whence people, who are in embarrassment, are accustomed in some
sort of way to obtain the necessary help--"my friend, it was a
mistake for which I must not be punished; for it was not my fault
that a rich heir, for whom I ordered the breakfast, is all at once
become poor,--yes, poorer than many a poor devil, because he has
lost more than the half of his present means upon the future. If
he, under these circumstances, as you may well imagine, cannot pay
for a dear breakfast, yet it does not prevent my paying for the
eggs which I have devoured, and giving you over and above
something handsome for your trouble, as business compels me to
move off from here immediately."
By my excellent logic, and the "something handsome," I removed
from my throat, with a bleeding heart and a watering mouth, that
dear breakfast, and wandered forth into the city, with my little
bundle under my arm, to seek for a cheap room, while I considered
where I w as to get the money for it.
In consequence of the violent coming in contact of hope and
reality I had a little headache. But when I saw upon my ramble a
gentleman, ornamented with ribbons and stars, alight from a
magnificent carriage, who had a pale yellow complexion, a deeply-
wrinkled brow, and above his eyebrows an intelligible trace of ill-
humour; when I saw a young count, with whom I had become
acquainted in the University of Upsala, walking along as if he
were about to fall on his nose from age and weariness of life,
I held up my head, inhaled the air, which accidentally
(unfortunately) at this place was filled with the smell of smoked
sausage, and extolled poverty, and a pure heart.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124