Chapter 12

           Thenextplanetwasinhabitedbyadrunkard. Thisvisitwasaverybriefone, butitplungedthelittleprinceintoadeepdepression. 

           "Whatareyoudoingthere?"heaskedthedrunkard, whomhefoundsunkinsilencebeforeacollectionofemptybottlesandacollectionoffullones. 

           "Drinking,"repliedthedrunkard,withagloomyexpression. 

           "Whyareyoudrinking?"thelittleprinceasked. 

           "Toforget,"repliedthedrunkard. 

           "Toforgetwhat?" inquiredthelittleprince,whowasalreadyfeelingsorryforhim. 

           "ToforgetthatI’mashamed," confessedthedrunkard,hanginghishead. 

           "Whatareyouashamedof?" inquiredthelittleprince,whowantedtohelp. 

           "Ofdrinking!"concludedthedrunkard,withdrawingintosilenceforgood. Andthelittleprincewentonhisway,puzzled. 

           "Grown-upsarecertainlyvery,verystrange," hesaidtohimselfashecontinuedonhisjourney.