Голод
Part IV
Alwayswhenanyoneofferedmeanagreement,areceipt,Ionlyshookmyheadandsaid:No,thankyou!GodknowsIdid.
Butstillthewomanfailedtocomprehendit.Ihadrecoursetootherexpedients—spokesharply,andbadeatrucetoallnonsense.Haditneverhappenedtoherbeforethatanyonehadpaidherinadvanceinthismanner?Iinquired—Imeant,ofcourse,peoplewhocouldaffordit—forexample,anyoftheconsuls?Never?Well,Icouldnotbeexpectedtosufferbecauseithappenedtobeastrangemodeofproceduretoher.Itwasacommonpracticeabroad.Shehadperhapsneverbeenoutsidetheboundariesofherowncountry?No?Justlookatthatnow!Inthatcase,shecouldofcoursehavenoopiniononthesubject;...andItookseveralmorecakesfromthetable.
Shegrumbledangrily,refusedobstinatelytogiveupanymoreofherstoresfromoffthetable,evensnatchedapieceofcakeoutofmyhandandputitbackintoitsplace.Igotenraged,bankedthetable,andthreatenedtocallthepolice.Iwishedtobelenientwithher,Isaid.WereItotakeallthatwaslawfullymine,Iwouldclearherwholestand,becauseitwasabigsumofmoneythatIhadgiventoher.ButIhadnointentionoftakingsomuch,Iwantedinrealityonlyhalfthevalueofthemoney,andIwould,intothebargain,nevercomebacktotroubleheragain.MightGodpreservemefromit,seeingthatthatwasthesortofcreatureshewas....
