Two friends are sitting at a table and drinking tea.
A sudden noise has arisen in the street. Plaintive moans, violent oaths,
outbursts of malicious laughter have become audible.
"Some one is being beaten," remarked one of the friends, after having
cast a glance out of the window.
"A criminal? A murderer?" inquired the other.--"See here, no matter who
it is, such chastisement without trial is not to be tolerated. Let us go
and defend him."
"But it is not a murderer who is being beaten."
"Not a murderer? A thief, then? Never mind, let us go, let us rescue him
from the mob."
"It is not a thief, either."
"Not a thief? Is it, then, a cashier, a railway employee, an army
contractor, a Russian Mæcenas, a lawyer, a well-intentioned editor, a
public philanthropist?... At any rate, let us go, let us aid him!"
"No ... they are thrashing a correspondent."
"A correspondent?--Well, see here now, let's drink a glass of tea
first."
July, 1878.