"I hardly think he will worry about me, I confess."
"Unfortunately there is the same difficulty as stands in the way of my going to Egypt."
"To tell you the truth," replied Mr Bunker, with an air of reluctant candour, "my funds are rather low. I had trusted to finding my father at home, but as he isn't, why----" he shrugged his shoulders and threw himself back in his chair.
The Baron seemed struck with an idea which he hesitated to express.
"Vaiter!" cried the Baron, "bring here two best cigars and two coffee!"
"And now," said the Baron, "I haf an idea, Bonker."
The Baron Rudolph von Blitzenberg, as I have said, had a warm heart. He was, besides, alone in one hundred and twenty square miles of strangers and foreigners when he had happened upon this congenial spirit. He began in a tone of the most ingenuous friendliness--
"I haf no friends here. My introdogtions zey are gone. Bot I haf moch money, and I vish a, vat you say?--showman, ha, ha, ha! You haf too leetle money and no friends and you can show. You show and I will loan you vat you vish. May I dare to suggest?"
"My goot Bonker! I am in airnest, I assure. Vy not? It is vun gentleman and anozzer."
"It is to myself I am kind, zen. I vant a guide, a frient. It is a loan. Do not scruple. Ven your fader goms you can pay if you please. It is nozing to me."
"Well, my dear Baron," said Mr Bunker, like a man persuaded against his will, "what can I say? I confess I might find a little difficulty in replenishing my purse without resorting to disagreeable means, and if you really wish my society, why----"
"I insist. Vaiter! Alzo two ozzer liqueur. Ve most drink to ze bairgain, Bonker."
They pledged each other cordially, and talked from that moment like old friends. The Baron was thoroughly pleased with himself, and Mr Bunker seemed no less gratified at his own good fortune. Half an hour went quickly by, and then the Baron exclaimed, "Let us do zomzing to-night, Bonker. I burn for to begin zis show of London."
"What would you care to do, Baron? It is rather late, I am afraid, to think of a theatre. What do you say to a music-hall?"
"Music-hall? I haf seen zem at home. Damned amusing, das ist ze expression, yes?"
"Bot," continued the Baron, solemnly, "I must not begin vid ze vickedest."