"Pretty fair, only it took a long time," said Mr. Wenzel, "but I must not stop. I only wanted to ask you how things are going with him over the way?"
"Why that?" asked Hummel, annoyed.
"Do you not know that his book-keeper has disappeared?"
"What!" exclaimed Mr. Hummel.
"They say he has speculated on the stock exchange, and escaped to America. But I must be off; good day."
Mr. Wenzel hastily departed.
Mr. Hummel remained in a state of great astonishment. He heard the voice of the city-councillor calling out:
"Good day, Mr. Hummel--a warm day--90 degrees in the shade. Have you heard?" he said, pointing with his stick to the neighboring house.
"Nothing," cried Hummel; "one lives in this place like in a prison. Whether it is fire, pestilence, or the arrival of high personages, it is only by pure accident one hears of it. What is all this about the absconding book-keeper?"
"It appears that your neighbor placed too much confidence in the man, and he has secretly used the name of his employer in some mad speculations, and fled last night. They say it is to the amount of forty thousand."