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CRAINQUEBILLE
23
“If anyone had told me only a fortnight ago that this would happen!”
Then he reflected:
“They speak too quickly, these gentlemen. They speak well, but they speak too quickly. You can’t make them understand you. … ’cipal, don’t you think they speak too quickly?”
But the soldier marched straight on without replying or turning his head.
Crainquebille asked him:
“Why don’t you answer me?”
The soldier was silent. And Crainquebille said bitterly:
“You would speak to a dog. Why not to me? Do you never open your mouth? Is it because your breath is foul?”
