human
You do not seem glad to see me,
gpt
There is no special reason for joy,
human
I shall not trouble myself, however, he said.
gpt
Here are the watches you gave me to repair.
human
It will barely pay for my week's board and lodging, he said. I made no remark. Then he opened fire in real earnest.
gpt
You do not forget the conversation we had last Saturday, Master Fink?
human
Surely not, I replied;
gpt
Do you still refuse the offer I made you?
human
I still refuse it.
gpt
Once is enough. I have nothing more to say on the subject. Perhaps it will be for my good that you do not take me into partnership.
human
Perhaps it will.
gpt
I should be a fool to waste the best years of my life in a service so unprofitable.
human
Very likely, very likely.
gpt
You have lately frequently complained of my work.
human
With good cause. In spite of all my endeavors to teach you, I never saw a watch-maker handle a watch more clumsily than you do.
gpt
It proves that I was made for higher things.
human
Or lower.
gpt
At all events I am going to better myself.
human
I am rejoiced to hear it. You give me notice to leave?
gpt
If it pleases you, Master Fink.
human
It pleases me well. When is the affliction to fall upon me?
gpt
As soon as convenient. Next week, or earlier, if it is acceptable.
human
It is quite acceptable. Go, Gideon, not next week, but this; not on Monday, but to-day--now, this very hour. I will not delay your prosperity by a single movement of a pendulum.
gpt
When I pay for the food I have had this week, he whined,
human
I shall have nothing left.
gpt
Do I owe you anything? I thought it was the other way--or have I been dreaming all these years?
human
You do not strictly owe me anything but you surely do not wish to thrust me on the world in a state of beggary!
gpt
It is not I who thrust you on the world it is your own deliberate act, my worthy Gideon, and your plans to better yourself are already laid. However, your appeal shall not be made in vain. I will deal, not justly, but generously, towards you. I opened my safe, and took therefrom a packet containing coins.
human
I am going to make you a present of twenty-eight florins. His eyes glistened, and he held out his eager hand.
gpt
All bad ones, Gideon, every one of them! But I am not responsible for that, it is your affair. Among them you will find, with a date scratched on them, two false florins you brought to me this day four weeks as having been paid to you by Strauss the butcher, for repairs done to his watch.
human
He gave them to me! cried Gideon, turning very white. His limbs trembled; he was in mortal fear,
gpt
With his own hands he gave them to me.
human
And you gave them to me. Go to Strauss, and inform him that he deals in bad money, for you will find in this packet three other false florins which you brought to me from him four months ago--you will see the date on them--in payment for a pair of silver ear-rings he bought for his little daughter. Go to Strauss, Gideon, go to him. He was never known to rob even the rich, and if you succeed in convincing him that he gave you the five bad florins, he will give you five good ones in exchange for them. He will do it, Gideon, without a murmur, for naturally he will be desirous to keep such a transaction very quiet. There is also another bad coin you brought to me from Rosenblatt the clothes-mender. Perhaps he found it in an old coat he was patching. There are seven others in a batch--mere bits of lead, Gideon--which you brought to me from Philip Adler the rabbi, in payment of a long-standing account. Philip Adler is a charitable man, and much loved. Go to him, and acquaint him with this sad business; he will not see you wronged.
gpt
It is a plot! gasped Gideon.
human
You wish to ruin me; you wish to take away my character.
gpt
Let us not speak of plots, I said, and here my voice grew stern.
human
Let us not speak of taking characters away. Every florin in this packet I received direct from your hands, and I have kept a faithful record of them. You will be glad to receive them back, for it is not a pleasant matter; it is, indeed, as you are well aware, a most dangerous matter. We live in evil times, Gideon, and one needs to be very, very careful in his dealings. Beware of rogues and backbiters; avoid bad company; speak always the truth; do not malign your benefactors; do not play cards with the devil; and do not betray the innocent. Fare you well, Gideon Wolf.