But it always seemed more natural; they were not so clever as you.

Damnation--damnation! You might have done something better than this.

It's about the meanest winding-up of a man's affairs that I can imagine!" Valentin feebly waved his hand to and fro.

"Don't insist--don't insist! It is mean--decidedly mean.

For you see at the bottom--down at the bottom, in a little place as small as the end of a wine-funnel--I agree with you!" A few moments after this the doctor put his head through the half-opened door and, perceiving that Valentin was awake, came in and felt his pulse.