The little back shop was very full.

To judge from the last accents of Akulina's voice she had been repaying Johann Schmidt with compound interest, now that the right was on her side, for the manner in which he had attacked her.

As the Count entered, however, all held their peace, and he began to speak in the midst of total silence.

He stood by the little black table upon which his lean, stained fingers had manufactured so many hundreds of thousands of cigarettes.
"Herr Fischelowitz," he began, "I am here to say good-bye to you, to your good wife, and to my companions.

During a number of years you have afforded me the opportunity of earning an honest living, and I have to thank you very heartily for the forbearance you have shown me.