ression, and
though it went sadly against his grain to know that Jost dared even to
think about Veronica and her interests at all, still he could not help
wondering what it was all about. Suddenly his resolution was taken; he
turned about, went down stairs and softly left the house.

Jost was standing in the doorway of the Rehbock, looking out into the
night to see if Dietrich was coming. They went at once into the little
back room. Blasi was there, sitting behind a big empty bowl; indeed he
never sat long behind a full one, for as the bowl was there to be emptied
he thought the quicker it was done the better.

"I'm glad you have come," he cried out, "for we've run quite dry here."

Dietrich perceived that he was expected to counteract the dryness; so he
ordered some beer, and when this was supplied Jost began in a cautious
tone,

"I have something to say to you, Dietrich, that I don't care for those
outside to hear. Blasi can stay, because he is our comrade."

"And because he can be made useful," said Dietrich readily, for he knew of
old that Jost was in the habit of rushing Blasi forward, where he did not
dare to go himself.

"I don't know about that," said Jost, "but now listen to me. Do you know
how a fellow who hasn't so much as a penny in his purse, can in one night
get enough to build a big stone house, like the one the landlord of the
lion has in Fohrensee, and make himself a gentleman all at once? I know
how; I know somebody who has explained it all to me, and I tell you,
Dietrich, you have only to say the word, and you can do the same, and give
up the whole saddler's business. You can afford to risk something; you're
not stupid; and with you it will all go right in a twinkling."

"Do you mean by card-playing?" asked Dietrich rather contemptuously, for
he had made up his mind about that long ago.

"No indeed, something very different. It is done on paper. You have
nothing to do but put some money down, and you can win two or three times
as much in no time."

"And lose _four_ times, I suppose?"

"There's no losing about it;" said Jost confidently, "You're sure to win
in the end, if you keep on long enough. It doesn't signify if you do lose
a little at first--you can afford to wait."

"I think my trade is surer of winning;" said Dietrich.

"Oh yes, sure enough!" said Jost scornfully. "It is a pretty sight to see
a fellow like you, sitting there year after year on the saddler's bench,
scraping all th