share in that new dock contract at Pola."

"And he means to give him the directorship of the Viecovar line, if it
ever be made."

"He 'll give him Sara Oppovich for a wife," said a third, "and that's a
better speculation than them all. Two millions of florins at least."

"She's the richest heiress in Croatia."

"And does n't she know it!" exclaimed another. "The last time I was up
at Fiume, old Ignaz apologized for not presenting me to her, by saying,
'Yesterday was her reception day; if you are here next Wednesday, I 'll
introduce you.'"

"I thought it was only the nobles had the custom of reception days?"

"Wealth is nobility nowadays; and if Ignaz Oppovich was not a Jew, he
might have the best blood of Austria for a son-in-law."

The discussion soon waxed warm as to whether Jews did or did not aspire
to marriage with Christians of rank, the majority opining to believe
that they placed title and station above even riches, and that no
people had such an intense appreciation of the value of condition as the
Hebrew.

"That Frenchman who was here the other day, Marsac, told me that the
man who could get the Stephen Cross for old Oppovich, and the title of
Chevalier, would be sure of his daughter's hand in marriage."

"And does old Ignaz really care for such a thing?"

"No, but the girl does; she's the haughtiest and the vainest damsel in
the province."

It may be believed that I found it very hard to listen to such words as
these in silence, but it was of the last importance that I should not
make what is called an _eclat_, or bring the name of Oppovich needlessly
forward for town talk and discussion; I therefore repressed my
indignation and appeared to take little interest in the conversation.

"You've seen the Fraeulein, of course?" asked one of me.

"To be sure he has, and has been permitted to kneel and kiss her hand on
her birthday," broke in another.

And while some declared that this was mere exaggeration and gossip,
others averred that they had been present and witnessed this act of
homage themselves.

"What has this young gentleman seen of this hand-kissing?" said a lady
of the party, turning to me.

"That it was always an honor conferred even more than a homage rendered,
Madam," said I, stepping forward and kissing her hand; and a pleasant
laughter greeted this mode of concluding the controversy.

"I have got a wager about you," said a young man to me, "and you alone
can decide it. Are you o