better things, a centre for trade of course, but also for humanizing, improving, instructing.” Conceive you — that ass! And he wants to be manager! No, it's — ” Here he got choked by excessive indignation, and I lifted my head the least bit. I was surprised to see how near they were — right under me. I could have spat upon their hats. They were looking on the ground, absorbed in thought. The manager was switching his leg with a slender twig: his sagacious relative lifted his head.

'You have been well since you came out this time?” he asked. The other gave a start. 'Who? I? Oh! Like a charm — like a charm. But the rest — oh, my goodness! All sick. They die so quick, too, that I haven't the time to send them out of the country — it's incredible!” 'Hm'm.