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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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119 whether he took any active part in such little proceedings as that which he had in contemplation. ‘“No,” replied the figure evasively; “but I am always present.” ‘“Just to see fair, I suppose?” said the baron. ‘“Just that,” replied the figure, playing with his stake, and examining the ferule. “Be as quick as you can, will you, for there’s a young gentleman who is afflicted with too much money and leisure wanting me now, I find.” ‘“Going to kill himself because he has too much money!” exclaimed the baron, quite tickled. “Ha! ha! that’s a good one.” (This was the first time the baron had laughed for many a long day.) ‘“I say,” expostulated the figure, looking very much scared; “don’t do that again.” ‘“Why not?” demanded the baron. ‘“Because it gives me pain all over,” replied the figure. “Sigh as much as you please: that does me good.” ‘The baron sighed mechanically at the mention of the word; the figure, brightening up again, handed him the hunting-knife with most winning politeness. ‘“It’s not a bad idea though,” said the baron, feeling the edge of the weapon; “a man killing himself because he has too much money.” ‘“Pooh!” said the apparition, petulantly, “no better than a man’s killing himself because he has none or little.” ‘Whether the genius unintentionally committed himself in saying this, or whether he thought the baron’s mind was so thoroughly made up that it didn’t matter what he said, I have no means of knowing. I only know that the baron stopped his hand, |
