listening crowd.

"Look here! You are a married man," said the lecturer at the top of
his voice, so as not to be heard by the assembly, as he fondly
imagined. "You must give me a word of advice, just one, only one
little word of advice, for I am extremely sensitive to-night,
especially in regard to this particular point."

"I will, brother," shouted his friend, "just one word, as you say,"
and he put his arm round his shoulders that he might whisper to him;
then he continued, screaming loudly: "Every act consists of three
parts, my brother: _Progresses, culmen, regressus_. I will speak to
you of the first, the second is never mentioned. Well, the initiative,
so to speak, that is the man's privilege--your part! You must take the
initiative, you must attack, do you understand?"

"But supposing the other party does not approve of the initiative?"

The friend stared at the novice, taken aback; then he rose and
contemptuously turned his back on him.

"Fool!" he muttered.

"Thank you!" was all the grateful pupil could reply.

Now he understood.

On the following day he was on fire with all the strong drink he had
consumed; he went and took a hot bath, for on the third day was to be
his wedding.