there, talking to this man,
and then to that one, often causing his work-people to laugh heartily
at his comments; while his chief delight was to watch the glass being
blown, frequently taking a hand himself in the work, forming from the
molten mass the most extraordinary patterns.

But too soon he began to weary of the business; at first, he was at the
factory for only one hour per day, then only every other day, and,
finally, only once a week, so that his workmen did just as they
pleased. And it was all the result of his visits to the tavern. On the
Sunday after his return from the Pine-grove, he went into the tavern,
and who should be footing it on the dancing floor but the Dance-King;
while Fat Ezekiel was already sitting behind a stoup of ale, throwing
dice for crown-thalers. At sight of the latter Peter thrust his hands
in his pockets to find out if the Glass manikin had kept his word--and
behold! his pockets were stuffed full of gold and silver pieces.
Meanwhile, his legs were twitching and jerking as if they were itching
to be dancing; so when the first dance was over, he took up a position
with his partner exactly opposite the Dance-King. Whenever the latter
sprang three feet into the air, Peter leapt four; and if his rival
performed any particularly wonderful or graceful steps, Peter twirled
and twisted his feet so that all beholders were well nigh beside
themselves with delight and admiration. And when those at the dance
heard that Peter had bought a glass-factory, and when they saw how he
flung a small coin to the musicians every time he danced past them,
there was no limit to their astonishment. Some were of opinion that he
had discovered a treasure in the forest; others held that he must have
inherited a fortune; while all paid him honour, and thought him to be a
man of position, simply because he had money. He might gamble away
twenty guilders in an evening, yet his pockets rattled and jingled just
the same, as though they still contained hundreds of thalers. When
Peter saw how much he was respected, he did not know how to contain
himself, so great was his joy and pride. He threw money about by
handsful, and was particularly liberal to the poor, because he himself
knew what it was to feel the pinch of poverty. The supernatural ability
of the new dancer soon cast all the feats of the Dance-King into the
shade, and Peter was now hailed as "Dance-Emperor." The most
venturesome gamblers did not stake so reck