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He said： 〃I do； a little。 Let's rest here a moment。〃
He stood there with his eyes glued to the thing。
He said； speaking huskily：
〃Talking of statues； what always strikes me is how very much one
statue is like another statue。〃
Harris said： 〃I cannot agree with you therepictures； if you like。
Some pictures are very like other pictures； but with a statue there is always
something distinctive。 Take that statue we saw early in the evening；〃
continued Harris； 〃before we went into the concert hall。 It represented a
man sitting on a horse。 In Prague you will see other statues of men on
horses； but nothing at all like that one。〃
〃Yes they are；〃 said George； 〃they are all alike。 It's always the same
horse； and it's always the same man。 They are all exactly alike。 It's
idiotic nonsense to say they are not。〃
He appeared to be angry with Harris。
〃What makes you think so？〃 I asked。
〃What makes me think so？〃 retorted George； now turning upon me。
〃Why； look at that damned thing over there！〃
I said： 〃What damned thing？〃
〃Why； that thing；〃 said George； 〃look at it！ There is the same horse
with half a tail； standing on its hind legs； the same man without his hat； the
same〃
Harris said： 〃You are talking now about the statue we saw in the
Ringplatz。〃
〃No； I'm not；〃 replied George； 〃I'm talking about the statue over
there。〃
〃What statue？〃 said Harris。
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George looked at Harris； but Harris is a man who might； with care；
have been a fair amateur actor。 His face merely expressed friendly
sorrow； mingled with alarm。 Next； George turned his gaze on me。 I
endeavoured； so far as lay with me； to copy Harris's expression； adding to
it on my own account a touch of reproof。
〃Will you have a cab？〃 I said as kindly as I could to George。 〃I'll run
and get one。〃
〃What the devil do I want with a cab？〃 he answered； ungraciously。
〃Can't you fellows understand a joke？ It's like being out with a couple of
confounded old women；〃 saying which； he started off across the bridge；
leaving us to follow。
〃I am so glad that was only a joke of yours；〃 said Harris； on our
overtaking him。 〃I knew a case of softening of the brain that began〃
〃Oh； you're a silly ass！〃 said George； cutting him short； 〃you know
everything。〃
He was really most unpleasant in his manner。
We took him round by the riverside of the theatre。 We told him it was
the shortest way； and； as a matter of fact； it was。 In the open space
behind the theatre stood the second of these wooden apparitions。 George
looked at it； and again stood still。
〃What's the matter？〃 said Harris； kindly。 〃You are not ill； are you？〃
〃I don't believe this is the shortest way；〃 said George。
〃I assure you it is；〃 persisted Harris。
〃Well； I'm going the other；〃 said George； and he turned and went； we；
as before； following him。
Along the Ferdinand Strasse Harris and I talked about private lunatic
asylums； which； Harris said； were not well managed in England。 He said
a friend of his； a patient in a lunatic asylum …
George said； interrupting： 〃You appear to have a large number of
friends in lunatic asylums。〃
He said it in a most insulting tone； as though to imply that that is
where one would look for the majority of Harris's friends。 But Harris did
not get angry； he merely replied； quite mildly：
〃Well； it really is extraordinary； when one comes to think of it； how
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many of them have gone that way sooner or later。 I get quite nervous
sometimes； now。〃
At the corner of the Wenzelsplatz； Harris； who was a few steps ahead
of us； paused。
〃It's a fine street； isn't it？〃 he said； sticking his hands in his pockets；
and gazing up at it admiringly。
George and I followed suit。 Two hundred yards away from us； in its
very centre； was the third of these ghostly statues。 I think it was the best
of the threethe most like； the most deceptive。 It stood boldly outlined
against the wild sky： the horse on its hind legs； with its curiously
attenuated tail； the man bareheaded； pointing with his plumed hat to the
now entirely visible moon。
〃I think； if you don't mind；〃 said Georgehe spoke with almost a
pathetic ring in his voice； his aggressiveness had completely fallen from
him；〃that I will have that cab； if there's one handy。〃
〃I thought you were looking queer；〃 said Harris； kindly。 〃It's your
head； isn't it？〃
〃Perhaps it is；〃 answered George。
〃I have noticed it coining on；〃 said Harris； 〃but I didn't like to say
anything to you。 You fancy you see things； don't you？〃
〃No； no； it isn't that；〃 replied George； rather quickly。 〃I don't know
what it is。〃
〃I do；〃 said Harris； solemnly； 〃and I'll tell you。 It's this German beer
that you are drinking。 I have known a case where a man〃
〃Don't tell me about him just now；〃 said George。 〃I dare say it's true；
but somehow I don't feel I want to hear about him。〃
〃You are not used to it；〃 said Harris。
〃I shall give it up from to…night；〃 said George。 〃I think you must be
right； it doesn't seem to agree with me。〃
We took him home； and saw him to bed。 He was very gentle and
quite grateful。
One evening later on； after a long day's ride； followed by a most
satisfactory dinner； we started him on a big cigar； and； removing things
from his reach； told him of this stratagem that for his good we had
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planned。
〃How many copies of that statue did you say we saw？〃 asked George；
after we had finished。
〃Three；〃 replied Harris。