The food commenced to take effect. I suffered much from it, and could not
keep it down for any length of time. I had to empty my mouth a little at
every dark corner I came to. I struggled to master this nausea which
threatened to hollow me out anew, clenched my hands, and tried to fight it
down; stamped on the pavement, and gulped down furiously whatever sought
to come up. All in vain. I sprang at last into a doorway, doubled up, head
foremost, blinded with the water which gushed from my eyes, and vomited
once more. I was seized with bitterness, and wept as I went along the
street.... I cursed the cruel powers, whoever they might be, that
persecuted me so, consigned them to hell's damnation and eternal torments
for their petty persecution. There was but little chivalry in fate, really
little enough chivalry; one was forced to admit that.
I went over to a man staring into a shop-window, and asked him in great
haste what, according to his opinion, should one give a man who had been
starving for a long time. It was a matter of life and death, I said; he
couldn't even keep beef down.
"I have heard say that milk is a good thing--hot milk," answered the man,
astonished. "Who is it, by the way, you are asking for?"
"Thanks, thanks," I say; "that idea of hot milk might not be half a bad
notion;" and I go.
I entered the first cafe I came to going along, and asked for some boiled
milk.
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