“No; thank you.”
“After all, I would rather sell them to the Jew. Perhaps I can manage to best him a bit, and, of course, I should not care to do that to you.”
“Much obliged. And suppose he is too sharp for you?”
“Well, then he must best me, that’s all. It’s always thus in the world, isn’t it? You have had tea, I suppose?”
“Yes—no, thank you; never mind. But, tell me, how long are you going to stay in the Hague?”
They sat down, and Vincent shrugged his shoulders. He really did not know; he had not yet received any information about the situation in the quinine factory in Java; but he heard they would give the preference to a chemist, which he was not. So he would most likely give up the idea; and, besides, he didn’t think the Indian climate would agree with him. In the meantime, staying in the Hague, to find something there, was out of the question. He was already getting tired of the Hague—it was so kleinstättig; every one knew every one else, at least by sight, and everywhere he met the same people, intensely tiresome! He had not yet made up his mind what to do, but he was expecting letters and remittances from Brussels. And he concluded by asking Paul if he could lend him a hundred gulden for a day or two. Paul thought he could manage it, but he could not yet say for certain.
“You would really be doing me a service; shall I hear from you then to-morrow? or do you think me indiscreet?”
“Oh no; not at all. Yes, all right, I shall see to-morrow.” [[91]]
“Well, thanks in advance. You know the two Erlevoorts and de Woude are coming this evening. I have asked them to come and drink a glass of wine,” said Vincent, in an altered tone.
“Yes; I saw them this afternoon at the Witte,” answered Paul.