The latter's
absolute assurance he considered offensive, in fact insupportable.
"Would you, please, tell me," he began, irresistibly impelled to wound
Sanine, "why you always talk as if you were teaching little children?"
Von Deitz, feeling uneasy at this speech, uttered something
conciliatory, and rattled his spurs.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Sanine sharply, "why are you so
angry?"
Yourii felt that his speech was discourteous, and that he ought not to
go any farther, yet his wounded self-respect drove him to add:
"Such a tone is really most unpleasant."
"It is my usual tone," replied Sanine, partly annoyed, and partly
anxious to appease the other.
"Well, it is not always a suitable one," continued Yourii, raising his
voice, "I really fail to see what gives you such assurance."
"Probably the consciousness of being more intelligent than you are,"
replied Sanine, now quite calm.
Yourii stood still, trembling from head to foot.
"Look here!" he exclaimed hoarsely.
"Don't get angry!" interposed Sanine. "I had no wish to offend you, and
only expressed my candid opinion.
Pages:
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299