lenty of fellows who would jump at
the chance. You can think it over till tomorrow, and then I'm sure you'll
be glad to accept. I'll meet you here to-morrow evening, and bring some
one with me who will explain it all clearly."

Dietrich agreed to think about it till to-morrow, and now, in high
good-humor and increasing confidence in the coming good-fortune, he helped
Blasi and Jost to empty the bowl, in a toast to the success of their new
projects.

It was Veronica's habit to work on her embroidery for some time after
going up to her bedroom, and this evening she was so much interested in
her work, that she did not observe the flight of time, until she heard the
clock strike one. She put by her sewing, and hastened to prepare for bed,
as she must be up and stirring again by five o'clock. Presently she heard
the outer door opened softly, and then closed from the inside. She blew
out her light and gently opened her bed-room door. The moon lighted up the
passageway with a faint beam. Some one came stealing up the staircase with
noiseless steps. She saw that it was Dietrich. He went cautiously into his
room and closed his door.

Veronica shut her door, and sat down upon her bed. All the blood seemed to
rush to her heart and she could not stir. She knew in a moment that
Dietrich, whom she had believed to be asleep long ago, had been visiting
in secret the hated Rehbock. She sat some minutes motionless on her bed,
in a kind of dull pain. Then she arose slowly, lighted her lamp again,
took out her work and with nervous fingers drove on her needle, which flew
faster and faster through the white cloth. She did not sleep at all that
night.

Nor did Dietrich fall asleep easily. His thoughts were busy and he could
not come to any decision. What should he do?

If he could become rich at once, without working any more, why shouldn't
he do it? Would it be best to consult his mother? No, that would upset
everything. He was sure that his mother was too firmly wedded to the old
ideas about ways of getting a living, to listen to any new-fangled methods
of making money without work.

And Veronica?

Certainly not Veronica, who valued work above everything, and who indeed
loved it so well, that she could not imagine that any one should ever wish
to escape it.

But if he were successful, both his mother and Veronica would profit by
his good fortune as much as himself. Why couldn't he go on with his own
plans in his own way? Why need