And Laploshka did it really
well.
Naturally Laploshka had a large circle of acquaintances, and as he
exercised some care in their selection it followed that an
appreciable proportion were men whose bank balances enabled them to
acquiesce indulgently in his rather one-sided views on hospitality.
Thus, although possessed of only moderate means, he was able to live
comfortably within his income, and still more comfortably within
those of various tolerantly disposed associates.
But towards the poor or to those of the same limited resources as
himself his attitude was one of watchful anxiety; he seemed to be
haunted by a besetting fear lest some fraction of a shilling or
franc, or whatever the prevailing coinage might be, should be
diverted from his pocket or service into that of a hard-up
companion. A two-franc cigar would be cheerfully offered to a
wealthy patron, on the principle of doing evil that good may come,
but I have known him indulge in agonies of perjury rather than admit
the incriminating possession of a copper coin when change was needed
to tip a waiter. The coin would have been duly returned at the
earliest opportunity--he would have taken means to insure against
forgetfulness on the part of the borrower--but accidents might
happen, and even the temporary estrangement from his penny or sou
was a calamity to be avoided.
The knowledge of this amiable weakness offered a perpetual
temptation to play upon Laploshka's fears of involuntary generosity.
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