第57章

TheArmeniansmiled。’Youwouldfindmeverydifferentfromthepublisher。’

’InmanypointsIhavenodoubtIshould，’Ireplied；’butatthepresentmomentIfeellikeabirdwhichhasescapedfromacage，and，thoughhungry，feelsnodispositiontoreturn。Ofwhatnationisthedarkmanbelowstairs，whomIsawwritingatthedesk？’

’HeisaMoldave，’saidtheArmenian；’thedog(andherehiseyessparkled)deservestobecrucified，heiscontinuallymakingmistakes。’

TheArmenianagainrenewedhispropositionaboutZ-，whichIagainrefused，asIfeltbutlittleinclinationtoplacemyselfbeneaththejurisdictionofapersonwhowasinthehabitofcuffingthosewhomheemployed，whentheymademistakes。Ipresentlytookmydeparture；not，however，beforeIhadreceivedfromtheArmenianapressinginvitationtocalluponhimwheneverIshouldfeeldisposed。

CHAPTERXLVIII

Whattodo-Strongenough-Fameandprofit-Alliterativeeuphony-Excellentfellow-Listentome-Aplan-BagniggeWells。

ANXIOUSthoughtsfrequentlydisturbedmeatthistimewithrespecttowhatIwastodo，andhowsupportmyselfintheGreatCity。Myfutureprospectsweregloomyenough，andIlookedforwardandfeared；sometimesIfelthalfdisposedtoaccepttheofferoftheArmenian，andtocommenceforthwith，underhissuperintendence，thetranslationoftheHaikEsop；buttheremembranceofthecuffswhichIhadseenhimbestowupontheMoldavian，whenglancingoverhisshoulderintotheledgerorwhateveritwasonwhichhewasemployed，immediatelydrovetheinclinationfrommymind。IcouldnotsupporttheideaofthepossibilityofhisstaringovermyshoulderuponmytranslationoftheHaikEsop，and，dissatisfiedwithmyattempts，treatingmeashehadtreatedtheMoldavianclerk；placingmyselfinapositionwhichexposedmetosuchtreatmentwouldindeedbeplungingintothefireafterescapingfromthefrying-pan。Thepublisher，insolentandoverbearingashewas，whateverhemighthavewishedorthought，hadneverliftedhishandagainstme，ortoldmethatImeritedcrucifixion。

WhatwasItodo？turnporter？Iwasstrong；buttherewassomethingbesidesstrengthrequiredtoplythetradeofaporter-

amindofaparticularlyphlegmatictemperament，whichIdidnotpossess。WhatshouldIdo？enlistasasoldier？Iwastallenough；

butsomethingbesidesheightisrequiredtomakeamanplaywithcreditthepartofsoldier，Imeanaprivateone-aspirit，ifspirititcanbecalled，whichwillnotonlyenableamantosubmitwithpatiencetoinsolenceandabuse，andeventocuffsandkicks，butoccasionallytothelash。IfeltthatIwasnotqualifiedtobeasoldier，atleastaprivateone；farbetterbeadrudgetothemostferociousofpublishers，editingNewgatelives，andwritingineighteenpennyreviews-bettertotranslatetheHaikEsop，underthesuperintendenceoftenArmenians，thanbeaprivatesoldierintheEnglishservice；Ididnotdeciderashly-Iknewsomethingofsoldiering。WhatshouldIdo？IthoughtthatIwouldmakealastanddesperateattempttodisposeoftheballadsandofAbGwilym。

Ihadstillanideathat，providedIcouldpersuadeanyspiritedpublishertogivethesetranslationstotheworld，Ishouldacquirebothconsiderablefameandprofit；not，perhaps，aworld-em