After the banquet, at which according to an old, time-honoured custom,
he had drunk eight glasses of brandy, he was so intoxicated that he
could no longer suppress his fears and apprehensions. Among his hosts
was a married man and to him the victim turned for counsel and advice.
Since neither of them was sober, they chose, as the most secluded spot
in the whole room, two chairs right in the centre, immediately under
the chandelier. Consequently they were soon surrounded by an eagerly
listening crowd.
"Look here! You are a married man," said the lecturer at the top of
his voice, so as not to be heard by the assembly, as he fondly
imagined. "You must give me a word of advice, just one, only one
little word of advice, for I am extremely sensitive to-night,
especially in regard to this particular point."
"I will, brother," shouted his friend, "just one word, as you say,"
and he put his arm round his shoulders that he might whisper to him;
then he continued, screaming loudly: "Every act consists of three
parts, my brother: _Progresses, culmen, regressus_. I will speak to
you of the first, the second is never mentioned. Well, the initiative,
so to speak, that is the man's privilege--your part! You must take the
initiative, you must attack, do you understand?"
"But supposing the other party does not approve of the initiative?"
The friend stared at the novice, taken aback; then he rose and
contemptuously turned his back on him.
Pages:
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298