human
You say you were here in Berlin once before? he questioned, and he added before I had time to answer:
gpt
When you speak don't call me 'Excellency' or 'Sereneness' or anything of that sort; just call me 'brother' or 'comrade.' This is the era of freedom. You're as good as I am, or nearly.
human
Thank you,
gpt
Don't be so damn polite, he snarled.
human
No good comrade ever says 'thank you.' So you were here in Berlin before?
gpt
Yes, I answered,
human
I was here writing up Germany from Within in the middle of the war.
gpt
The war, the war! he murmured, in a sort of wail or whine.
human
Take notice, comrade, that I weep when I speak of it. If you write anything about me be sure to say that I cried when the war was mentioned. We Germans have been so misjudged. When I think of the devastation of France and Belgium I weep.
gpt
To think of the loss of all those English merchant ships!
human
Oh, you needn't worry, I said,
gpt
Oh I hope so, I do hope so, said the Bolshevik chief.
human
What a regret it is to us Germans to think that unfortunately we are not able to help pay for it; but you English--you are so generous--how much we have admired your noble hearts--so kind, so generous to the vanquished...