When the business was settled, and Franz had gone a little way along the street with Habermann, he said, "Dear father, sit down here a moment, on this bench, I will come back directly, I have forgotten something I wanted to speak to Moses about." And when he went back to Moses he said, "My father-in-law, Habermann, told me, this morning, that Pomuchelskopp wants to sell Gurlitz."
"Wonder of wonders!" cried Moses, "Habermann, father-in-law! What does it mean?"
"I am going to marry his daughter."
The old Jew rose painfully from his chair, and laid his withered hand on the young head of the Christian nobleman:
"The God of Abraham bless you! You marry into a good family."
And after a little, Franz said, "Buy it for me, transact the business for me, but my name must not be mentioned, and no one--especially Habermann--is to know anything about it. At St. John's, I can raise a hundred thousand thalers."
"But how high shall I go?"
"I Leave that to you; but inquire about it to-day. I will come again to-morrow, and we can talk it over."
"Well," said Moses, "this is business, this is honest business. Why shouldn't I do a little business?"
Franz left him.