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THE STEEL FLEA
dies, and there they poured tea for him, and inquired: "Why do you frown?"
He replies: "Because," says he, "we are not used to taking it very sweet."
Then they gave him a lump of sugar to nibble at, in Russian fashion.
They argued with him that it could not be as nice that way, but he said: "To our taste it is more tasty thus."
In no way could the English disconcert him, or make him feel attracted by their manner of life, and merely succeeded in persuading him to remain their guest for a short time, by promising that during that time they would take him about to divers factories, and show him all their art.
"And then," said they, "we will take him to his ship, and deliver him alive in Petrograd."
To this he agreed.
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