her you would
suit; nothing is yet settled," was the dignified reply.

"I came that you might see me, sir."

"And why did you come so late, young Itzig? this is not the time for
business."

"I wished to show myself to-night, in case, sir, you should have any
commission to give me for to-morrow. I thought I might be useful, as it
is market-day; and I know most of the coachmen of the farmers who come
in with rape-seed and other produce; and I know many of the brokers
too."

"Are your papers in good order," was the reply, "so that I may have no
trouble with the police?"

When Veitel had given satisfaction on this important subject, Ehrenthal
vouchsafed to say, "If I take you into my house, you must turn your hand
to any thing that I, or Mrs. Ehrenthal, or my son, may chance to order;
you must clean the boots and shoes, and run errands for the cook."

"I will do any thing, Mr. Ehrenthal, to make you satisfied with me," was
the humble reply.

"For this you will receive two dollars a month; and, if I make a good
bargain by your assistance, you will have your share. As for your
sleeping-quarters, they had better be with Loebel Pinkus, that I may know
where to find you when wanted." So saying, Ehrenthal opened the door,
and called, "Wife, Bernhard, Rosalie, come here."

Mrs. Ehrenthal was a portly lady in black silk, with strongly-marked
eyebrows and black ringlets, who laid herself out to please, and was
extremely successful, report averred. As for her daughter, she was,
indeed, a perfect beauty, with magnificent eyes and complexion, and a
very slightly aquiline nose. But how came Bernhard to be one of the
family? Short, slight, with a pale, deeply-lined face, and bent figure,
it was only his mouth and his clear eye that bespoke him young, and he
was more negligently attired, too, than might have been expected. They
all looked at Veitel in silence, while Ehrenthal proceeded to say that
he had taken him into his service; and Veitel himself mentally resolved
to be very subservient to the mother, to fall in love with the daughter,
to clean carelessly Bernhard's boots, and carefully to search his pocket
in brushing his coat. On the whole, he was well pleased with the
arrangement made, and smiled to himself as he went along to Loebel
Pinkus.

This Loebel Pinkus was a householder who kept a spirit-shop on the ground
floor; but one thing was certain, no mere spirit-shop could have
enriched him as this did. However, he bor