So the first year passed, and six months of the second, Pretzel never ceasing to question me about my famous speculation, and I never ceasing to express my despair. During the last few months he was in the habit of coming to me with his watch in his hand, and saying,
"Master Fink, I wish you to regulate my watch."
And I regulated it for him, on an average, once in every week.
On the day before the money was to be repaid I went to the bank, and drew it out in hard coin, and received, also, the interest--with which interest I purchased, as I had previously determined, the handsome lever-watch I have ever since worn, and the handsome gold chain you see round my neck.
The morning arrived. I had a friend to breakfast with me, who was to witness what was about to take place. Suspecting some trick, and wishing to be prepared for it, I had arranged that this friend was to come to me at seven o'clock in the morning, and to stay till the affair was over. I expected that Pretzel would present himself at about a quarter to twelve, but to my astonishment he entered my shop as half a dozen clocks on my shelves chimed a quarter to ten. He was accompanied by a lawyer.
"Good-morning, Master Fink," he said.
"Good-morning," I said.
Heavens! How cunning and sharp and sly and malicious was his look!
"You know what to-day is?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied, "it is Wednesday."