Unfortunately Walter had to admit that he had not yet studied that branch.
"Nor bookkeeping, either? Boy! that's the main thing in business. If a man can't do that his cake's dough. It's very simple. You write down who takes out a book, with the day and date and street and number. And when they bring the book back you drawn a line through it; and you've got a pretty kettle of fish if you don't do it. When you don't know the people you must----"
"Ask for a deposit!" cried Walter quickly, rejoiced that he knew something. It's doubtful if he knew what he was to draw the line through.
"Yes, a deposit. A florin a week for a volume. Then, you understand, when a volume's gone, the cake's dough with that volume. Later I will explain to you everything about the cigars and tobacco; but first I must know whether your mother--ask her right away! And now I've explained everything to you at least half a dozen times. For there's no lack of boys that want to go into business; but when it comes to Moses and the Prophets--then they set the bow-sails. And that's the main thing. Otherwise you look a little delicate, but I must know first if your mother can deposit a caution. Adieu!"
Walter went home in a peculiar frame of mind. At first the family did not think favorably of that "cash security." Stoffel, however, had often heard of such things, and negotiations were opened with the said firm. It was finally agreed that a deposit of one hundred florins should be made, for which the firm agreed to pay 3 1/2% interest. Juffrouw Pieterse was not quite satisfied with this, as she was accustomed to getting 4%; but "one must do something for one's children."
Stoffel, who represented the Pieterses in these negotiations, was surprised that he never got to see more than the first half of the firm--or, better, the first third. He even took the liberty of remarking on the peculiar circumstance, when he learned that the "Co." was merely ornamental, while "Business" existed only in Mr. Motto's imagination. In fact that handsome and worthy gentleman alone constituted the "responsible business firm," and like an Atlas carried on his broad shoulders all the responsibilities incident to such a complicated and extensive undertaking. It was quite natural that he should desire to put a part of the burden on the back of some diligent, reliable Protestant boy, who could furnish cash security. For that was "the main thing."