Fatal zero, a diary kept at Homburg . all their workfor them. FATAL ZERO. 171 Paterfamilias, I see, is interested. Ton my word, sir, there is a great dealof truth in what you say. But how onearth did he find out about you, Polly?—And see here, AVilliam, my boy, I forbidyou to put down another kreutzer. They wont let him do that, papa, saysthe young girl, eagerly. Well, I know nothing about their rules,and don^t want to. But mind, William,dont let me see you in those blackguardrooms again. Its ungentlemanly, so it is—a set of sharpers.* I can see that the young fellows heart isin the blackguard
Fatal zero, a diary kept at Homburg . all their workfor them. FATAL ZERO. 171 Paterfamilias, I see, is interested. Ton my word, sir, there is a great dealof truth in what you say. But how onearth did he find out about you, Polly?—And see here, AVilliam, my boy, I forbidyou to put down another kreutzer. They wont let him do that, papa, saysthe young girl, eagerly. Well, I know nothing about their rules,and don^t want to. But mind, William,dont let me see you in those blackguardrooms again. Its ungentlemanly, so it is—a set of sharpers.* I can see that the young fellows heart isin the blackguard rooms already. Butthe father is a good-natured old fellow, andis loved by his children; so that in mylittle unpretending way I may have saveda good and domestic family from trouble,discord, disobedience, and could have given paterfamilias a little 172 FATAL ZERO< hint himself; for outsiders who saw a re-spectable English country gentleman put-ting down, even for his daughter, wouldbe affected by the CHAPTER XVIL Friday. — I have just returned fromFrankfort. Such a charming old town,refreshing to see in all its reverend inno-cence and hoariness, after the flauntinggarishness of this new and wicked saw the merchant, who received me verygraciously, and had lunch ready. Afterit was over, we talked of business, and hebegan by saying that he had determined togive the sum he had offered before, and nomore. Something prompted me at thatmoment to try and do something for myfriend, and act a little, though I now doubtif it was strictly conscientious. Still, making 174 FATAL ZERO. a bargain is making a bargain—does notour conventional morality hold it to be amere trial of skill—and I boldly said thatit was too little, quite out of the ques-tion, &c. He was a Jew, and I think notdisappointed that there was to be some^haggling. On that we set to work; mypet should have seen the latent diplomaticpowers I called into play. Will you believeme—i
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