Explore "The Blotted Escutcheon and the Soiled Ermine" by Ambrose Bierce on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
A Blotted Escutcheon, rising to a question of privilege, said:
"Mr. Speaker, I wish to hurl back an allegation and explain that the spots upon me are the natural markings of one who is a direct descendant of the sun and a spotted fawn. They come of no accident of character, but inhere in the divine order and constitution of things."
When the Blotted Escutcheon had resumed his seat a Soiled Ermine rose and said:
"Mr. Speaker, I have heard with profound attention and entire approval / the explanation of the honourable member, and wish to offer a few remarks / on my own behalf. I, too, have been foully calumniated by our ancient / enemy, the Infamous Falsehood, and I wish to point out that I am made of / the fur of the "Mustela maculata", which is dirty from birth."