"Your most obedient servant," I said, rising, and making him a polite bow.
"Eh! what?" he exclaimed, "Do you want to frighten me? You are not going, I know; why all these fooleries?"
"And you will agree with me at last, so why all this noise?" I replied laughing.
"But I tell you for the hundredth time that if I sell Zehrendorf ever so well, I need the money for other things than your cursed factory!" shouted the commerzienrath.
I looked him steadily in the eye, and said, "Do you know what I have lately dreamed, Herr Commerzienrath? It is that you are really very far from being the rich man you are generally believed to be."
"You confounded fellow! you humorous dog! you funny rascal!" cried the commerzienrath. "I suppose you will tell me next that I have stolen the boots I am wearing. Couldn't you lend me five thalers for a day or two? you----"
And he poked me in the ribs with his thumb, and held his sides with laughter at his capital joke.
"If you are a rich man, then," I continued very seriously, and it cost me no effort to be serious now--"then say yes, and the thing is settled."
I held out my hand, and he struck his own into it, laughing still like mad.
"The thing is settled then," I said, drawing a deep breath.