Голод
Part III
Forthatmatter,itwasopentometosettleitwiththeshopkeeperlateron,onamoreopportuneoccasion.Itneednotgoanyfartherwithme.Besidesthat,Ihadnottakenuponmyselftolivemorehonourablythanalltheotherfolk;therewasnocontractthat....
"Doyouthinkthatbeefwillsoonbehere?"
"Yes;immediately";thewaitressopensthetrapdoor,andlooksdownintothekitchen.
Butsupposetheaffairdidcropupsomeday?Iftheshop-boyweretogetsuspiciousandbegintothinkoverthetransactionaboutthebread,andtheflorinofwhichthewomangotthechange?Itwasnotimpossiblethathewoulddiscoveritsomeday,perhapsthenexttimeIwentthere.Well,then,Lord!...Ishruggedmyshouldersunobserved.
"Ifyouplease,"saysthewaitress,kindlyplacingthebeefonthetable,"wouldn’tyourathergotoanothercompartment,it’ssodarkhere?"
"No,thanks;justletmebehere,"Ireply;herkindlinesstouchesmeatonce.Ipayforthebeefonthespot,putwhateverchangeremainsintoherhand,closeherfingersoverit.Shesmiles,andIsayinfun,withthetearsnearmyears,"There,you’retohavethebalancetobuyyourselfafarm....Ah,you’reverywelcometoit."
Icommencedtoeat,gotmoreandmoregreedyIasIdidso,swallowedwholepieceswithoutchewingthem,enjoyedmyselfinananimal-likewayateverymouthful,andtoreatthemeatlikeacannibal.
Thewaitresscameovertomeagain.
