JORGHEN. That least of all.
ERIC. Are you really such a beast?
JORGHEN. That's what every one thinks me, so I suppose I must believe it.
ERIC. [Returning to his previous idea] And.... There is a thought that pursues me.... He looks like old Odin, I said: Odin who has returned to despoil the temples of the Christians just as they once robbed his temples.... You should have seen them weighing and counting church treasures at Herman Israel's yesterday. It was ghastly!... And do you know, he is lucky in everything he undertakes. There is favourable wind whenever he goes sailing; the fish bite whenever he goes fishing; he wins whenever he gambles. They say that he was born with a caul....
JORGHEN. A most unusual man.
ERIC. Do you know young Jacob, the son of Herman Israel? He promised to come here to-night. Rather precocious, perhaps, but with sensible ideas on certain subjects—and I think I admire some of his qualities because I lack them myself.
JORGHEN. Is that so?
ERIC. Otherwise he is probably a perfect rascal like his father.
JORGHEN. Then I shall be pleased to make his acquaintance.
ERIC. Because he is a rascal?—Ha-ha!