"Well then, come back in half-an-hour; perhaps he'll be home to supper."
"If so, may I wait outside?" asked the Jew, without, however, moving from the place where he stood. "Has his worship any dogs?"
"Dogs?" said Vilma.
"Yes, if there are no dogs in the yard I can wait; but if there are any I cannot wait. I am afraid of them."
"You may wait!" said Etelka, angrily; "there are no dogs in the house."
"Yes: but there may be some in the next house. I am a stranger, and it was but last year, in the third village from here, that the dogs nearly tore me to pieces. Since that time I fear them." And the stranger told them a long story, how he was walking through the village, how the dogs attacked him, and how he was saved by a shepherd who happened to hear his cries. "Bless me!" added the Jew, "if that man had not come they would have torn my cloak, and it was a very good cloak; it was not new, but it was a good cloak, for I bought it at Pesth for five florins and thirty kreutzers."
The Jew was so cunning, and withal so awkward, that Etelka could not help laughing at him; but Vilma felt uncomfortable, and asked him to go and come back in half an hour. Whereupon the Jew said that he would wait in the servants' room.
"No!" said Vilma; "there is a sick woman lying close by the servants' room; besides, we have told you over and over again that you must come back in half an hour, and that you shall not stay."
The Jew bowed very humbly, and walking to the door which led into the kitchen, he opened it.
"Stop!" said Vilma; "where are you going to?"