[The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue]@TWC D-Link book
The Wandering Jew

CHAPTER IV
8/15

What do you answer to that ?" "Nothing!" said Dagobert, coldly, as he proceeded to rinse out another piece of linen.
"Nothing!" returned Morok; "that is very little.

I will be less brief, and tell you, that, when an honest man offers a glass of wine civilly to a stranger, that stranger has no right to answer with insolence, and deserves to be taught manners if he does so." Great drops of sweat ran down Dagobert's forehead and cheeks; his large imperial was incessantly agitated by nervous trembling--but he restrained himself.

Taking, by two of the corners, the handkerchief which he had just dipped in the water, he shook it, wrung it, and began to hum to himself the burden of the old camp ditty: "Out of Tirlemont's flea-haunted den, We ride forth next day of the sen, With sabre in hand, ah! Good-bye to Amanda," etc.
The silence to which Dagobert had condemned himself, almost choked him; this song afforded him some relief.
Morok, turning towards the spectators, said to them, with an air of hypocritical restraint: "We knew that the soldiers of Napoleon were pagans, who stabled their horses in churches, and offended the Lord a hundred times a day, and who, for their sins, were justly drowned in the Beresino, like so many Pharaohs; but we did not know that the Lord, to punish these miscreants, had deprived them of courage--their single gift.

Here is a man, who has insulted, in me, a creature favored by divine grace, and who affects not to understand that I require an apology; or else--" "What ?" said Dagobert, without looking at the Prophet.
"Or you must give me satisfaction!--I have already told you that I have seen service.

We shall easily find somewhere a couple of swords, and to morrow morning, at peep of day, we can meet behind a wall, and show the color of our blood--that is, if you have any in your veins!" This challenge began to frighten the spectators, who were not prepared for so tragical a conclusion.
"What, fight ?--a very, fine idea!" said one.


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