"Mr. Maikafer——" he began, but Max held up his hand protestingly.
"Ask me no questions, Trinkmann," he said, "and I wouldn't tell you no lies. But one thing I will say, Trinkmann, and that is that Louis didn't know nothing about it. We conned you into keeping him and raising his wages. That's all. Am I right or wrong, Ringentaub?"
Ringentaub made no reply. He was holding a fork in his hand and examining it critically.
"Of course, Trinkmann," he said, "I don't want to say nothing the first time I am coming into your place, but this here fork's got onto it something which it looks like a piece Bismarck herring."
"Don't take it so particular, Ringentaub," Maikafer said, blushing guiltily. "Wash it off in the glass water."
"A glass water you drink, Maikafer," Ringentaub rejoined, "and forks should be washed in the kitchen. And, furthermore, Trinkmann," Ringentaub said, "it don't do no harm if the waiters once in a while cleans with polishing powder the forks."
"I thought, Maikafer," Trinkmann said in funereal tones, "you are telling me that polishing powder is rank poison."
"I didn't told you that," Maikafer replied. "It was Feinsilver says that."
"Rank poison!" Ringentaub exclaimed. "Why, you could eat a ton of it."
"Sure, I know," Maikafer concluded; "but who wants to?"