صفحة 32 من 1294

"Well, when one has no one, nowhere else one can go! For every

man must have somewhere to go. Since there are times when one

absolutely must go somewhere! When my own daughter first went out

with a yellow ticket, then I had to go... (for my daughter has a

yellow passport)," he added in parenthesis, looking with a

certain uneasiness at the young man. "No matter, sir, no matter!"

he went on hurriedly and with apparent composure when both the

boys at the counter guffawed and even the innkeeper smiled--"No

matter, I am not confounded by the wagging of their heads; for

everyone knows everything about it already, and all that is

secret is made open. And I accept it all, not with contempt, but

with humility. So be it! So be it! 'Behold the man!' Excuse me,

young man, can you.... No, to put it more strongly and more

distinctly; not can you but dare you, looking upon me, assert

that I am not a pig?"

The young man did not answer a word.