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Chapter 13

           AsakindofcompensationIamallowedtotellthetruth,foritisawell-knownfactthatonlystupidpeopletell‘thetruth.’Addedtothis,Iamaspitefulman,justbecauseIamnotclever.IfIamoffendedorinjuredIbearitquitepatientlyuntilthemaninjuringmemeetswithsomemisfortune.ThenIremember,andtakemyrevenge.Ireturntheinjurysevenfold,asIvanPetrovitchPtitsinsays.(Ofcourseheneverdoessohimself.)Excellency,nodoubtyourecollectKryloff’sfable,‘TheLionandtheAss’?Wellnow,that’syouandI.Thatfablewaswrittenpreciselyforus.”

           “Youseemtobetalkingnonsenseagain,Ferdishenko,”growledthegeneral.

           “Whatisthematter,excellency?Iknowhowtokeepmyplace.WhenIsaidjustnowthatwe,youandI,werethelionandtheassofKryloff’sfable,ofcourseitisunderstoodthatItaketheroleoftheass.Yourexcellencyisthelionofwhichthefableremarks:

           ‘Amightylion,terrorofthewoods,

           Wasshornofhisgreatprowessbyoldage.’

           AndI,yourexcellency,amtheass.”

           “Iamofyouropiniononthatlastpoint,”saidIvanFedorovitch,withill-concealedirritation.

           Allthiswasnodoubtextremelycoarse,andmoreoveritwaspremeditated,butafterallFerdishenkohadpersuadedeveryonetoaccepthimasabuffoon.

           “IfIamadmittedandtoleratedhere,”hehadsaidoneday,“itissimplybecauseItalkinthisway.HowcananyonepossiblyreceivesuchamanasIam?Iquiteunderstand.

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