"As pious as a chalice cover!"
"Honest, simple?"
"In an unheard-of degree: but what connection has that with the countess?"
"I wish to place the countess in her care."
"But the lawsuit?"
"Just because of that."
Here the sick man moved suddenly. Yosef looked at him quickly, then whispered,—
"One instalment of rent stands in my way, but this and that may be arranged, perhaps something can be done after his death."
"Oi, rent, rent!" whispered Augustinovich. "To keep us awake I must tell thee a little tale. I have never paid rent, I was enraged whenever rent was even mentioned, and I never could accustom any house-owner to refuse taking it. At last I succeeded with one. He was an old little fellow, and stupid as the ears of Midas. Well, once I was sitting in a small garden which belonged to him, and because the season was summer and the time night, for want of a better occupation I was counting the stars in the sky. I was dreaming somewhat; a starry night, as thou knowest, brings a dreamy state of mind. Thereupon that ass came to me and spoke absurdly. He simply wanted me to pay him. I rose from my place, and outlining in solemnity with my hand a bow between the east and the west, I asked mysteriously,—
"'Dost see this immensity and those millions of the lights of God?'