I was already seeing my childhood friend dashing the coin back in my brother's face. I exerted all my strength to raise myself and stretch my hands out so as to prevent violence--but what was that? No, impossible! And yet I saw it with my own eyes. He took the money--he said, "Thank you"--he bowed--he walked away! And I? I stared after him as though he were an evil spirit, then sank back on the cushions with a weary sigh. That, my dear friend, was the way I said good-bye to my youthful dream.