ey have no money left for such things. Now, under that worthy old
man's roof everything was in the best order." The philosopher chuckled
aloud and rubbed his hands as he went on: "Supposing we kick over the
traces for once, Philip. Supposing we were to carry out our friend's
dying wish? Merciful Isis! It would certainly be a good action, and
I have not many to boast of. But cautiously--what do you say? We can
always throw it up at a month's notice."

Then he grew grave again, shook his head, and said meditatively: "No,
no; such plans only disturb one's peace of mind. A pleasant vision! But
scarcely feasible."

"Not for the present, at any rate," replied the leech.

"So long as Paula's fate remains undecided, I beg you to let the matter
rest."

The old man muttered a curse on her; then he said with a vicious, sharp
flash in his eyes: "That patrician viper! Every where in everything--she
spoils it all! But wait a while! I fancy she will soon be removed from
our path, and then.... No, even now, at the present time, I will not
allow that we should be deprived of what would embellish life, of doing
a thing which may turn the scale in my favor in the day of judgment. The
wishes of a dying man are sacred: So our fathers held it; and they were
right. The old man's will must be done! Yes, yes, yes. It is settled.
As soon as that hindrance is removed, we will keep house with the two
women. I have said; and I mean it."

At this point the gardener came in again, and the old man called out to
him:

"Listen, man. We shall live together after all; you shall hear more of
this later. Stay with my people till sundown, but you must keep your own
counsel, for they are all listeners and blabs. The physician here will
now take the melancholy tidings to the unfortunate widow, and then you
can talk it all over with her at night. Nothing startling must take
place at the house there; and with regard to your master, even his death
must remain a secret from every one but us and his family."

The gardener knew full well how much depended on his silence; Philippus
tacitly agreed to the old man's arrangement, but for the present he
avoided discussing the matter with the women. When, at length he set off
on his painful errand to the widow, Horapollo dismissed him saying:

"Courage, courage, my Son.--And as you pass by, just glance at our
little garden;--we grieved to see the fine old palm-tree perish; but now
a young and vigorous shoot is gro