"I admire you," said the little prince, shrugging his shoulders a little, "but how can that interest you?"

And the little prince departed.

"The grown-ups are decidedly bizarre," he told himself simply during his journey.

XII

The next planet was inhabited by a drinker. This visit was very short, but she plunged the little prince into a great melancholy:

" What are you doing here ? He said to the drinker, whom he found installed in silence before a collection of empty bottles and a collection of full bottles.

"I drink," replied the drinker, with a lugubrious air.

"Why do you drink?" Asked the little prince.

"To forget," replied the drinker.

- To forget what? Inquired the little prince, who already pitied him.

"To forget that I am ashamed," confessed the drinker, lowering his head.

"Shame on what? Inquired the little prince who wished to succor him.