e is your connivance--at least, your connection with these
infernal spirits."

"But be easy, my good fellow, be easy! _I_ connected with tobacco and
straw?"

"At all events, you have been ridiculing the ten commandments and
Christian morals and faith."

"Was I not obliged to do so in order to show how well the thief,
usurer, and filthy dog Shund harmonizes with the spirit of progress?
Can he who wishes to make use of the devil confer with the devil in the
costume of light? Not at all; he must clothe himself in the mantle of
darkness. And you must not object to my using the demon Progress for
the purpose of winning your span of horses and saving my stakes. Let us
not have a disgraceful altercation. Consider me as a stage actor,
whilst you are a spectator that is being initiated into the latest
style of popular education. Ah, do you hear? The last one is drawing
near. Be pleased to vanish."

The third leader, house-builder Sand, appeared. The greater portion of
his face is hidden by a heavy black beard; in one hand he carries a
stout bamboo cane; and it is only after having fully entered, that he
deliberately removes his hat.

"I wish you a pleasant morning, Mr. Greifmann. You have sent for me:
what do you want?"

The banker slowly raised his eyes from the latest exchange list to the
rough features of the builder, and remembering that the man had risen
up from the mortarboard to his present position, and had gained wealth
and influence through personal energy, he returned the short greeting
with a friendly inclination of the head.

"Will you have the goodness to be seated, Mr. Sand?"

The man of the black beard took a seat, and, having noticed the
handsome collection of banknotes, his coarse face settled itself into a
not very attractive grin.

"I want to impart to you my intention of erecting a villa on the
Sauerberg, near the middle of our estate at Wilheim," continued the
millionaire.

"Ah, that is a capital idea!" And the man of the beard became very
deeply interested. "The site is charming, no view equal to it; healthy
location, vineyards round about, your own vineyards moreover. I could
put you up a gem there."

"That is what I think, Mr. Sand! My father, who has been abroad for the
last three months, is quite satisfied with the plan; in fact, he is the
original projector of it."

"I know, I know! your father has a taste for what is grand. We shall
try and give him satisfaction, which, by the bye, i