'Our governors, our judges, and the crowd of small officials are not highly paid, and what they do receive is paid irregularly.

Then all, whether high or low, must live; and it is customary in our land to offer gifts to persons in authority, because a smile, God knows, is always better than a frown from such an one.

We are not like the Franks, who barter everything, even their most sacred feelings, even love.

It gives us pleasure to make gifts, and see them welcomed, even when the recipient is someone who cannot in any way repay us for our trouble, as a Frank would say.' 'But to sell justice; for it comes to that!' I cried, indignant.
'Who talks of selling justice?
You are quite mistaken.

If I have to go before a judge I make a gift beforehand to his Honour, whose acceptance tells me, not that he will give a verdict in my favour--do not think it!--but merely that his mind contains no grudge against me.
If he refused the gift I should be terrified, since I should think he had been won completely by the other side.