"I will be careful," said Zaklika.
"Everything you give me I will send you whenever it best suits you," added the Israelite.
Lehman took from a sideboard a bottle of wine and two glasses.
"No, thank you," said Zaklika. "I must hasten, for I want to learn some news to take to my mistress."
"It is always the same old story," said Lehman, gloomily; "those who drink with the King they are in favour; they enjoy themselves from morning till evening, and they send to Königstein those who are in the way of their amusement. You must not ask for pity or heart, for the least sensitive people are those who are lascivious. The King uses all of them, bestows favours upon them when he needs them, and he despises them."
"What about the Countess Denhoff?"
"She gathers money, that's all; and it seems the King already thinks of marrying her to somebody."
Lehman shrugged his shoulders.
"You wish to learn something," continued he. "Here the people are changed, but not the things."
They talked a little while longer; then Lehman led Zaklika to the gate at the rear of the garden, and gave him a key for it. Zaklika, wrapped in his mantle, went on further. He did not think it would be dangerous to mix with the crowd, to approach Zwinger, and see what was going on there.