第27部分(第5/8 頁)

　all；　I　don’t　wish　to　treat　you　like　an　inferior：　that　is”　（correcting　himself）；　“I　claim　only　such　superiority　as　must　result　from　twenty　years’　difference　in　age　and　a　century’s　advance　in　experience。　This　is　legitimate；　et　j’y　tiens；　as　Adèle　would　say；　and　it　is　by　virtue　of　this　superiority；　and　this　alone；　that　I　desire　you　to　have　the　goodness　to　talk　to　me　a　little　now；　and　divert　my　thoughts；　which　are　galled　with　dwelling　on　one　point—cankering　as　a　rusty　nail。”

He　had　deigned　an　explanation；　almost　an　apology；　and　I　did　not　feel　insensible　to　his　condescension；　and　would　not　seem　so。

“I　am　willing　to　amuse　you；　if　I　can；　sir—quite　willing；　but　I　cannot　introduce　a　topic；　because　how　do　I　know　what　will　interest　you？　Ask　me　questions；　and　I　will　do　my　best　to　answer　them。”

“Then；　in　the　first　place；　do　you　agree　with　me　that　I　have　a　right　to　be　a　little　masterful；　abrupt；　perhaps　exacting；　sometimes；　on　the　grounds　I　stated；　namely；　that　I　am　old　enough　to　be　your　father；　and　that　I　have　battled　through　a　varied　experience　with　many　men　of　many　nations；　and　roamed　over　half　the　globe；　while　you　have　lived　quietly　with　one　set　of　people　in　one　house？”

“Do　as　you　please；　sir。”

“That　is　no　answer；　or　rather　it　is　a　very　irritating；　because　a　very　evasive　one。　Reply　clearly。”

“I　don’t　think；　sir；　you　have　a　right　to　mand　me；　merely　because　you　are　older　than　I；　or　because　you　have　seen　more　of　the　world　than　I　have；　your　claim