n me," the lawyer interrupted him in a whisper and started to
leave him, "I am in a hurry. It is hot and the flowers are drying up."

"I will walk to the well with you," continued Michael Petroff good
humoredly, and walked rapidly beside the departing lawyer. "I can tell
you just as well while we are walking. So I said to the Doctor today:
'Now, Doctor, haven't you anything for me today?' 'No,' said he, 'my
dear Captain, nothing at all, I am sorry to say.' 'Really nothing,'
said I, and I took him by the arm. 'Has not there been a single answer
for weeks? Really nothing, Doctor?' He looked at me and thought a
while. 'Oh yes,' he said, 'I had almost forgotten. A document did come
for you. It is about that carpenter, you know, Captain.' 'A carpenter,
Doctor? I don't remember'--so I took out my memorandum book, in which I
enter all the documents that I send out: 'Where did the answer come
from? From Saxony? Ah!' said I, 'then it must be about the butcher's
apprentice who was condemned to death.' 'Yes,' said the Doctor, 'that
is it. The fellow was a butcher's apprentice.' And now listen, my
friend. Because of my petition, his Majesty the King of Saxony has
condescended to pardon him. I must write a letter of thanks to His
Majesty this very day."

"How the sun burns today," the lawyer responded to Michael Petroff's
tale, and began to work the pump handle. "All the flowers look so
wilted."

"Ha, ha!" laughed Michael Petroff. "You're not listening at all, are
you?"

No, the lawyer was not listening. He was looking into his can to see if
it was full.

Michael Petroff looked at him a while with his head on one side, then
he laughed quietly to himself and walked rapidly away. He glanced about
the garden in search of some one to whom he could tell his cheerful
tale.

Just then he espied the "Rajah," who was walking up and down in the
vegetable garden between two beds of lettuce. According to his habit,
the "Rajah" was alone, and in a place where no one else would be apt to
come.

Michael Petroff rose up on tiptoes and considered whether he had
better, with one jump, spring over the beds, which separated him by
about a hundred paces from the "Rajah." He would only have to soar
upward a very little and he would be there. But he was afraid of being
impolite to the "Rajah" or perhaps of startling him, so he gave up the
idea.

The "Rajah" was pacing up and down with his usual pride and dignity,
but today he was restless and