Gutenberg consented, and the next day the woman sent the money for the "St. Christopher." A few days later it happened that several people, calling at the shop to buy gems, chose to purchase pictures instead. Anna was very much pleased by the sales, and told her husband so at supper that evening. But he was less satisfied. "In spite of the sales I have lost money today," said he. "Those who bought the prints had meant to buy jewels and mirrors, and if they had done so I should have made a bigger profit. The pictures take people's attention from the gems, and so hurt my business."
"But may it not be that the printing will pay thee better than the sale of jewels, if thou wilt keep on with it?" suggested the hopeful wife. "How soon shalt thou go to the Cathedral with the Abbot's jewels?"
"As soon as I have finished the polishing. Engraving these blocks has kept me back even in that."
"When thou dost go take some of thy prints with thee," begged Anna, "and see what the Father has to say about them."
By working hard Gutenberg had the Abbot's jewels finished two days later, and he took them with several of his prints to the Cathedral. He was shown into the library, where often a score of monks were busied in making copies of old manuscripts. He delivered the jewels to the Abbot, and then showed him the pictures.
"Whose handiwork is this?" asked the Father.
But Gutenberg was not quite ready to give away his secret, and so he answered evasively, "The name of the artisan does not appear."
"Where didst thou obtain them?" asked the Abbot.
"I pray thee let me keep that also a secret," answered Gutenberg.
The Abbot looked them over carefully. "I will take them all," said he. "They will grace the walls of our library, and tend to preserve us from evil."
The young jeweler was very much pleased, and hurried home to tell his wife what had happened. She was delighted. "Now thou art in a fair way to grow rich," said she.
But Gutenberg was by nature cautious. "We mustn't forget," he answered, "that the steady income of a regular trade is safer to rely on than occasional success in other lines."
A few days later a young man named Andrew Dritzhn called at Gutenberg's shop, and asked if he might come and learn the lapidary's trade. Theretofore Gutenberg had had no assistants, but, on thinking the matter over, he decided that if he had a good workman with him he would have more time to study the art of printing. So he engaged Dritzhn. Soon after this the new apprentice introduced two young friends of his, who also begged for the chance to learn how to cut gems and set them, and how to polish Venetian glass for mirrors and frame them in carved and decorated copper frames. Gutenberg agreed and these two others, named Hielman and Riffe, came to work with him.