The fellow was a burr, sticking to the outer
skirts of respectable society, and when he was engaged to act as
interpreter on such an occasion, he felt himself to be a great man. He
was over weighted with his importance. At the banquet he sat at Boyton's
right hand and at every toast proposed, he would rise and bow in the
most gracious manner. This rather embarrassed Paul, who understood about
all that was being said and could speak enough Italian to make
himself understood. He mentioned the fact to one or two of his
entertainers, at the same time expressing a desire to be rid of the
interpreter. The fellow was having too much pleasure to be easily
disposed of, and it was not until some very vigorous words were passed,
that he concluded to abandon the scene. In the meantime he had been
honoring every toast with copious draughts of wine, and was very much
intoxicated when he left the hall. He wandered about the streets and
the more he thought of his dismissal, the deeper became his wrath and he
concluded that he had been insulted. A few more measures of wine,
partaken of at the cafe, determined him to wipe the insult out in blood.
Having made up his mind to write Boyton a challenge, he entered a
hotel with an air of great importance, and called to a waiter in a voice
that could be heard all over the place:
"Waiter; a pen, ink and paper.
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