Три товарища

           "HolyJesus!"exclaimedMatilda,staringatmewithblearyeyes."Iwasn’texpectingyouyet."

           "Thatdoesn’tsurpriseme.Didittastegood?"

           "Sureanditdid.Butthisissoawkward,HerrLohkamp."Shewipedherhandacrosshermouth."Ijustcan’tunderstand—"

           "Come,Matilda,that’sanexaggeration.You’reonlytight—fullasatick,eh?"

           Shemaintainedherbalancewithdifficultyandstoodthereblinkinglikeanoldowl.Graduallyhermindbecameclear.Resolutelyshetookastepforward.

           "Manishuman,HerrLohkamp,afterall...Ionlysmelleditatfirst...andthenItookjustonelittlenip,becausewell,youknow,Ialwayshavehadaweakstomach...andthen...thenIthinktheDevilmusthavegotholdofme.Anyway,youhavenorighttoleadanoldwomanintotemptation,leavinggoodbottlesstandingaboutlikethat...."

           ItwasnotthefirsttimeIhadcaughtherso.Sheusedtocometousfortwohourseverymorningtocleanuptheworkshop;andthoughonemightleaveasmuchmoneylyingaroundasonelikedshewouldneverdisturbit—butschnappsshecouldsmelloutasfaroffasaratasliceofbacon.

           Iheldupthebottles."Naturally!You’veleftthecustomers’cognac....Butthegoodstuff,HerrKöster’sown—you’vepolisheditalloff."

           Agrinappearedonherweather-beatenface."Trustme,HerrLohkamp;I’maconnoisseur!Butyouwon’ttell,HerrLohkamp—andmeapoorwidow?"