Part 12 (1/2)

”That's my uncle.”

Alas, what is terrible is not the skeletons, but the fact that I am no longer terrified by them.

A boy of good family, capricious, full of mischief, obstinate, wore out his whole family. The father, an official who played the piano, got to hate him, took him into a corner of the garden, flogged him with considerable pleasure, and then felt disgusted with himself. The son has grown up and is an officer.

N. courted Z. for a long time. She was very religious, and, when he proposed to her, she put a dried flower, which he had once given to her, into her prayer-book.

Z: ”As you are going to town, post my letter in the letter-box.”

N: (alarmed) ”Where? I don't know where the letter-box is.”

Z: ”Will you also call at the chemist's and get me some naphthaline?”

N: (alarmed) ”I'll forget the naphthaline, I'll forget.”

A storm at sea. Lawyers ought to regard it as a crime.

X. went to stay with his friend in the country. The place was magnificent, but the servants treated him badly, he was uncomfortable, although his friend considered him a big man. The bed was hard, he was not provided with a night s.h.i.+rt and he felt ashamed to ask for one.

At a rehearsal. The wife:

”How does that melody in Pagliacci go? Whistle it.”

”One must not whistle on the stage; the stage is a temple.”

He died from fear of cholera.

As like as a nail is to a requiem.