“What is it you want?” said the wise man, looking at Gebhart over the rim of his spectacles.
“Master,” said Gebhart, “I have studied day after day at the university, and from early in the morning until late at night, so that my head has hummed and my eyes were sore, yet I have not learned those things that I wish most of all to know—the arts that no one but you can teach. Will you take me as your pupil?”
The wise man shook his head.
“Many would like to be as wise as that,” said he, “and few there be who can become so. Now tell me. Suppose all the riches of the world were offered to you, would you rather be wise?”
“Yes.”
“Suppose you might have all the rank and power of a king or of an emperor, would you rather be wise?”
“Yes.”
“Suppose I undertook to teach you, would you give up everything of joy and of pleasure to follow me?”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps you are hungry,” said the master.