"You are making game of me, Herr Fortune," Pigglewitch said, in his most lachrymose tones; "but I must endure it, for you have saved my life."
"Don't mention it. That is a debit and credit affair. Had you not sung your hymn I should be lying in the forest with a bullet in my brains, and you would be reposing peacefully beneath the green, crystal waters of the lake. You certainly owe me nothing, and need think of nothing save your own advantage in deciding whether or not to accept the bargain I offer you, for I am not jesting. I make you the serious offer of three thousand five hundred marks cash, payable upon the receipt of your name, your credentials, your clothes, which you can exchange for mine,--and not a bad exchange either, it seems to me,--and lastly, of your express promise to emigrate immediately to America."
"Are you really not joking? Three thousand five hundred marks----"
"Cash. I pay en amateur. I like the beautiful name of Pigglewitch, and your black coat, with its long, pointed swallow-tail, enchants me. I am sure it will become me admirably."
Pigglewitch looked doubtfully at the young man, who spoke so calmly, but whom he was inclined to pronounce insane. "What do you want to do with my name and my credentials?" he said.
"I have lived a long time as Fortune, and for the sake of variety I should like to live and labour for a while as Pigglewitch. For how long? I do not know; and besides that is not the question between you and me. I shall go on living from day to day until the Pigglewitch existence also becomes intolerable to me. Come, decide, friend Pigglewitch; will you accept my proposal or not?"
Gottlieb reflected. Herr Fritz Fortune was evidently quite insane. Only a madman would kill himself from ennui when his pockets were full of money. His offer was a crazy one, but what business was that of Gottlieb Pigglewitch? The proposal was most tempting,--three thousand five hundred marks. He might well sell his credentials, which would be valueless in America, for such a sum. Why should he not in his need accept an offer which would lay the foundations of his fortune? It would be unpardonable folly not to seize with both hands so unexpected a piece of luck.
"If you are really in earnest," he said, with a suspicious look at Herr Fortune,--"I can hardly believe it,--but if your offer is made seriously, I will accept it."
"Bravo, friend Pigglewitch! you are a delightful fellow!" cried Fortune. "There's my hand, the bargain is concluded."
With some hesitation Pigglewitch took the offered hand. He was still in some doubt, but this vanished when Fortune sprang up and led him up the bank whence a short time previously each had thrown himself into the lake. Here upon the short grass lay Fortune's coat and hat, with Pigglewitch's tall beaver and travelling-bag. In the breast-pocket of his coat Fortune found a pocket-book, which he opened, taking from it a thick bundle of bank-notes of a thousand or five hundred marks each, with here and there one for a hundred only. At this sight everything glimmered before the astonished eyes of Pigglewitch, who had never before seen so much money together. And the happy possessor of this wealth, which seemed quite 'beyond the dreams of avarice,' had very nearly killed himself voluntarily a short hour previously. Oh, the poor fellow was evidently mad, quite mad!