Midwinter Town: A Novella
“Do I remember you? May the Desmiri melt me into tallow and make candles of me for the mosques if I forget you! Some months ago you opened the door at Dopula's with Chaplinski, which suited my taste exactly, for in the selfsame way I got out of prison once in Stamboul. How is Sir Podbipienta?
“Sir Podbipienta is well, and asked to be remembered to you.”
“He is a very rich man, but fearfully dull. If he should cut off three heads like his own, it would be only a head and a half, for he would cut off three half-heads. Pshaw! How hot it is, though it is only March yet! The tongue dries up in one's throat.”
“I have some excellent triple mead; maybe you would take a glass of it?”