Nor did he thank me, or give any token of acknowledgment beyond a little friendly twinkle of the eyes.' At once I pounced on this admission, crying: 'That shows that he regarded the transaction as unlawful! And your remark upon it shows that you, too, think it so.' Suleyman looked slowly round until his eyes met mine, not one whit disconcerted, though until I spoke he had not known that I was anywhere in earshot.
'Your Honour is incorrigible,' he replied, with a grave smile.

'I never knew your like for obstinacy in a false opinion; which shows that you were born to fill some high position in the world.

Of course they all--these fine officials, great and small--regard it as beneath their dignity to take a present which they sorely need.

To take such presents greedily would be to advertise their poverty to all the world.

And Government appointments swell a man with pride, if nothing else--a pride which makes them anxious to be thought above all fear of want.