"
"Do not mention it, Count. I am only too glad to be of service."
"You are very kind. And now, Herr Fischelowitz," he continued, turning to
the tobacconist, "it is my pleasant duty to thank you also. I looked for
these gentlemen yesterday. They have arrived to-day. The change which I
expected would take place has come, and I am about to return to my home.
The memories of poverty and exile can never be pleasant, but I do not
think that I have any just reason to complain. Will it please you, Herr
Fischelowitz, and you, gentlemen, to go into the next room with me? I wish
to take my leave of those who have so long been my companions."
Fischelowitz opened the door of communication and held it back
respectfully for the Count to pass. His ideas were exceedingly confused,
but his instinct told him to make all atonement in his power for his
wife's outbursts of temper. The Count entered first, and the other three
followed him, Grabofsky, the Consul, and Fischelowitz. The little back
shop was very full. To judge from the last accents of Akulina's voice she
had been repaying Johann Schmidt with compound interest, now that the
right was on her side, for the manner in which he had attacked her. As the
Count entered, however, all held their peace, and he began to speak in the
midst of total silence. He stood by the little black table upon which his
lean, stained fingers had manufactured so many hundreds of thousands of
cigarettes.
"Herr Fischelowitz," he began, "I am here to say good-bye to you, to your
good wife, and to my companions.
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