76 



THE RAT 



you a rough translation. What I wish to say is, in 

 plain English : All these disgusting traps and snares 

 have given me the hump, and I mean to say so. 

 So far I have kept a civil tongue in my head, out 

 of respect for your youth and innocence. Now I 

 cannot promise that my feelings will not be too 

 much for me ; they may compel me to use long 

 and difficult words. Therefore I would advise you 

 to have a dictionary handy. Bring one bound in 

 leather if possible, as T may want something to eat 

 at intervals when my feelings overcome me, and a 

 bit of leather is very sustaining. 



You may wonder whether I am not afraid of 

 putting ideas into your head in telling you some- 

 thing about the many ways in which my life is 

 jeopardized daily. I have three reasons to urge in 

 support of my action. Firstly, you are bound to 

 be so wdcked already that it cannot make much 

 difference; you inherit what is called 'original sin.' 

 Secondly, I hope that this record of an eventful life 

 may fall into the hands — paws, I mean — of rats as 

 well as of men ; but it must be bound in calf, 

 or else no rat who cherishes the smallest particle 

 of self-respect will have anything to do with it- 

 Thirdly, I must confess that I am rather proud of 

 my knowledge, and feel a pardonable desire to 



