new establishment was, Itzig only used it at night and during
office-hours. His inclinations still led him to his old haunts at Loebel
Pinkus's. Thus he led a double life--that of a respectable man of
business in his newly-painted office, beneath the glare of his solar
lamps; and when in the caravanserai, which fitted his taste far better,
a modest sort of life, with red woolen curtains, and a four-cornered
chest for a sofa. Perhaps this shelter suited him so exactly, because of
his uncontested influence over the master of the house. Pinkus, to his
shame be it spoken, had sunk into a mere tool of Veitel's, and his wife,
too, was devoted in her allegiance to the rising man.

On the present occasion Itzig sat carelessly on his sofa, and smoked a
pipe with an amber mouth-piece. He was completely the gentleman, and
expected a visitor of distinction. The bell rang, the servant flew to
the door, and a sharp voice was heard. Next there arose a dispute in the
lobby, which moved Veitel to shut up his writing-table in all haste, and
to put the key into his pocket.

"Not at home, indeed! He is at home, you wretched greenhorn you!" cried
the sharp voice to the guardian of the door. Next some resisting body
was heard to be thrust on one side. Veitel buried himself in an old
mortgage. The door opened, and Hippus appeared, red-faced and much
ruffled. He had never looked more like an old raven.

"So you deny yourself, do you? You tell that grub yonder to send away
old friends! Of course, you are become quite genteel, you fool! Did one
ever meet with such barefaced ingratitude? Because the fellow has
swindled himself into two fine rooms, his former associates are no
longer good enough for him! But you have reckoned without your host, my
boy, as far as I am concerned; I am not to be got rid of so easily."

Veitel looked at the angry little man before him with an expression of
countenance by no means friendly.

"Why did you make a scene with the young man?" he said, coldly; "he has
done nothing wrong. I was expecting a visitor on business, and I gave
orders to exclude all strangers. How could I know that you would be
coming? Have we not settled that you should only visit me in the
evening? Why do you disturb me during my business hours?"

"Your business hours, you young gosling, with your shell still hanging
about you!" cried Hippus, still more irate, and threw himself on the
sofa. "Your business hours!" he continued, with infinite