me beside him; "nor when we talk freely to each other, as is our
wont, are any of us offended."

"But you forget, sir," said I, "that I have no share in these freedoms,
and that were I to attempt them, you'd resent the liberty pretty soon."

"The Knabe is right," "He says what's true," "He speaks sensibly," were
muttered all around.

"You have been well educated, I suspect?" said the cashier, in a
gentle voice; and now the thought that by a word--a mere word--I might
compromise myself beyond recall flashed across me, and I answered, "I
have learned some things."

"One of which was caution," broke in another; and a roar of laughter
welcomed his joke.

Many a severer sarcasm would not have cut so deeply into me. The
imputation of a reserve based on cunning was too much for my temper,
and in a moment I forgot all prudence, And hotly said, "If I am such
an object of interest to you, gentlemen, that you must know even the
details of my education, the only way I see to satisfy this curiosity of
yours is to say that, if you will question me as to what I know And what
I do not, I will do my best to answer you."

"That's a challenge," cried one; "he thinks we are too illiterate to
examine him."

"We see that you speak German fluently," said the cashier; "do you know
French?"

I nodded assent

"And Italian and English?"

"Yes; English is my native language."

"What about Greek and Latin, boy?"

"Very little Greek; some half-dozen Latin authors."

"Any Hebrew?" chimed in one, with a smile of half mockery.

"Not a syllable."

"That's a pity, for you could have chatted with Herr Ignaz in it."

"Or the Fraulein," muttered another. "She knows no Hebrew," "She does;
she reads it well," "Nothing of the kind," were quickly spoken from many
quarters; and a very hot discussion ensued, in which the Fraulein
Sara's accomplishments and acquirements took the place of mine in public
interest.

While the debate went on with no small warmth on either side,--for it
involved a personal question that stimulated each of the combatants;
namely, the amount of intimacy they enjoyed in the family and household
of their master: a point on which they seemed to feel the most acute
sensibility,--while this, therefore, continued, the cashier patted me
good-humoredly on the arm, and asked me how I liked Fiume; if I had made
any pleasant acquaintances; and how I usually passed my evenings? And
while thus chatting pleasantly, we glided int