VIII 
  
THE DOG AND THE FLASK 
  
  
“HERE, pupsikins, good doggie, nice doggie! 
Come and smell this delicious scent; it is by 
the best perfumer in town.” And the dog, wag-
ging his tail, which is, I suppose, for these poor 
creatures the sign which corresponds to smiles 
and laughter, comes near and with great curi-
osity rests his nose upon the unstoppered 
flask; then, suddenly recoiling in fright, he 
barks at me reproachfully. 
Ah, wretched dog, if I had offered you a 
parcel of ordure you would have sniffed it with 
delight and very likely eaten it up! Unworthy 
companion of this sad life of mine, how you re-
semble the public, to whom one must never 
present the delicate perfumes which only ex-
asperate it, but carefully selected scraps of 
nastiness!