Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt:...an insinuation in cold blood, even from a judge? 'Pray, sir, do I look like an old rat that has spent its days in gnawing the classics?' cried I. ' Am I an ink tippler?--a college sizar?--Speak Latin, quotha?--Ten thousand devils! Were I not come here to consult you on my lawsuit, I would soon teach you what it is to talk about Latin to a gentleman of my habits.' " "Spoke like a man, my worthy guest! I'd have given a thousand florins to have been present," cried the Baron, roaring with laughter. "No sooner had I said the word, than the Doctor frankly told me I had not the slightest chance,--that I was too well known in Vienna. Athousand devils! Because I am known, I am to lose my rights. First, he insulted me by talking about Latin; and then I could not contain myself---I proposed a meeting to him or an apology!" " To Sphex?" cried the Baron, laughing heartily,--" and pray what answer did the old ape make to your proposition?" " He raised his eyes to heaven, and disappeared like a spectre behind a stack of musty books; whereupon I took my leave. I saw that the Doctor was likely to bear me malice; though the devil knows why,--for it does not follow, because you run a man through the body, that you may not be perfectly good friends with him." " He is as ingenuous as a child!"--murmured the Baron. " His character and appearance are strangely at variance!" " I next proceeded," resumed Létoriere, " to see counsellor Flacsinfingen; and on arriving at his house, found an old sorceress dressed in black, who might have passed for the female of the male pedant,--dry, skinny, and armed to the teeth, with a...