“Hullo! how are you?” said the eldest.
“Oh, well enough,” replied he.
“And how have you got on, and how much money have you made?”
“Oh, no money,” replied the young man, “but I think I have picked up a little experience.”
“Pooh!” cried the others in a breath. “That’s all very well, but it isn’t good enough for us.”
“Are you rich, then?” asked the youngest.
“Rich?” cried the eldest, “did you say rich? I am rolling in gold. I have a great shop in which the merchandise of four kingdoms changes hands, and my counting-house is so fine that two Emperors drove up last Sunday and asked if they might be allowed to go over it. I said yes, of course. There was a Bishop in the carriage, too.”
The youngest brother’s eyes grew round. “Well, that’s grand indeed,” he said.
“And I,” broke in the middle brother—“I have no taste for buying and selling; in fact, I think it rather low. But a lady fell in love with me, so I married her. She inherited money from a Duke, who is her uncle, and she asks nothing better than I should spend it.”
“Well, well, well!” exclaimed the youngest.