to you,
Glassmanikin." Saying which he seized the little man by the collar, and
shouted: "Ha! I have you now. Guardian of the pine-tree wold! And now I
will make my third wish, which you will have to grant me. I demand,
without delay, on this very spot, two hundred thousand thalers, and a
house, and--oh-oh-ah!" he shrieked, wringing his hands, for the
Glassmanikin had turned into a mass of white-hot glass, burning Peter's
hand as if he had thrust it into fire; and in the same moment the
manikin vanished.

For several days afterwards Peter's scorched and swollen hand reminded
him of his ingratitude, and folly. But he soon turned a deaf ear to the
voice of conscience, consoling himself with the reflection: "What if
they do sell up my glass-factory and everything else. Fat Ezekiel is
still left to me! So long as he has money on Sundays, I shall not go
without."

Very good Peter! But supposing he should happen to have none at all,
for once?

And this is what actually came to pass. One Sunday, Peter drove to the
tavern, people observing him through their windows as he passed.

"There goes Gambling-Peter!" cried some; while others exclaimed:
"Hullo, there's the Dance-Emperor, the rich Glass-manufacturer." But a
few shook their heads, saying: "Don't be so sure about his wealth; why,
everybody is talking about his debts, and it is rumoured among the
townspeople that the bailiffs will soon be selling him up."

Meanwhile Peter bowed proudly and gravely to those he knew, and on
arriving at the tavern, alighted from his carriage, crying out: "Good
evening, landlord; has Fat Ezekiel yet arrived?" To which a deep voice
replied: "Just come in, Peter? Your place has been kept for you, and we
have got the cards out already."

Peter entered and got ready to play, well aware that Ezekiel must be
well supplied with funds, for his own pockets were stuffed full with
money.

Having taken his seat opposite the others he began playing, now
winning, and now losing; and they kept on until such a late hour that
all respectable people went off home. The lamps were lighted, and still
they played on, until two of the players said: "There, that's enough!
we must be getting home to wife and child."

But Gambling-Peter urged Fat Ezekiel to stay on. The latter was for a
time unwilling, but said at last: "Well, I will just count my money,
and then we will play at dice--and let the stake be five guilders, for
to throw for less is child's play."