e skin off his hands; and with all the income you have,
too! why in ten years you won't have as much as will build you a house
such as you want, and it would take ten years more to become a gentleman;
and she'd like it a great deal better to have something nice now, and not
wait till she is fifty years old."

Dietrich was red with anger.

"What business is it of yours to be forever thinking and talking about
her?" he blazed out. "You have no concern with her whatever; just keep
yourself to what you're fit for."

"Why do go on as you do?" asked Jost with a knowing wink. "Do you suppose
it never enters anybody's head to ask why you keep on working and delving
as if you liked it? Can't we guess who you're doing it all for?"

"And it's not at all out of the way to be thinking about her, either,"
interposed Blasi, "there's another ready enough to do that if there were
any chance for him," and he winked significantly at Jost. Jost took no
notice of the insinuation, but went on, addressing himself to Dietrich.

"There's no danger for you in this plan. We will share losses and gains
alike, and if we do not like it we can leave off when ever we choose. But
I don't see why we shouldn't like it, when we can earn so much with so
little trouble, and without working from morning till night. There goes
somebody now, who has all he wants, I should like to be in his place!"

A wagon was rattling by as he spoke, and its occupant was urging the
galloping horse faster and faster along the road.

"That's the doctor," said Dietrich, looking out; "he has had to work hard
enough and is still at it. He must be going to visit a very sick patient;
he would not be driving at that rate for anything else. It is late for the
old gentleman to be out."

"Work!" said Jost, "well, I speak for that kind of work; sitting in a
chaise behind a horse. It's another part of speech to have to work with
one's hands, as we do."

"The doctor has to work with his hands too, I'm sure of that. And besides,
we have our evenings to ourselves, while he may be kept at it till eleven
o'clock at night, as he is this evening, and later."

"Oh drop all this stupid talk and give us an answer; yes or no. Will you
be a fool and go on pricking your fingers over your work, or will you join
me and have things comfortable without working at all? Anybody but you
would be grateful to me for the chance I offer you. I came to you with it
because of our old friendship. I know p