“Can I be of service to you, Sir, in a Christian way?” he asked, after he had blown his nose.
Daniel looked at him in amazement.
“You know, I could help you in an unselfish, Christian way, to get a position. There is a great deal of work to be done down at the Prudentia. If I were to recommend you to Herr Zittel it certainly would not be in vain. Herr Zittel is head of the clerical department. I also stand in with Herr Diruf, and he is general agent. I come in contact nearly every day with Inspector Jordan, and Herr Jordan is a man of exceptional culture. His daughter Gertrude attended my Sunday-school class. She has received and still enjoys divine favour. If you were to entrust your case to me, you would be entering upon a righteous, wholesome career. I am always looking out for some one. To tell the truth, and not wishing to appear immodest, I was born that way.”
The man looked like a patchwork of qualmishness, tribulation, and unctuous piety, and his coat collar was badly frayed.
“That’s all right,” replied Daniel; “don’t you see that I am getting along quite well?”
The pious life-insurance agent sighed and brushed a drop from the tip of his nose with the back of his hand. “My dear Sir,” said he, “take to heart the words of Solomon: Pride goeth before a fall, but the humble in spirit obtain honour.”
“Yes, I’ll take that to heart,” said Daniel drily, and bent still lower over the score on which he was working.
Benjamin Dorn sighed again, and limped out of the room. With his thumbs pointing straight to high heaven above, he said to Frau Hadebusch: “You know, Frau Hadebusch, I simply can’t help it. I must lighten my heart in a Christian way. What do you think?”
“Good heavens, what’s he doing? What’s he up to now?” sighed the old lady, as she shoved her broom under her arm.
“As true as I stand here, the table is all covered with papers, and the papers are all covered with some kind of mysterious signs.”