"'Oh, no!' he answered briskly, 'you ought to go into society and see
your clients, and I myself have my friends at my cafe.'

"'His friends!' thought I to myself.--'Very well,' said I, 'why not
come at dinner-time?'

"'That is the time,' said Gobseck, 'after 'Change, at five o'clock.
Good, you will see me Wednesdays and Saturdays. We will talk over
business like a pair of friends. Aha! I am gay sometimes. Just give me
the wing of a partridge and a glass of champagne, and we will have our
chat together. I know a great many things that can be told now at this
distance of time; I will teach you to know men, and what is more
--women!'

"'Oh! a partridge and a glass of champagne if you like.'

"'Don't do anything foolish, or I shall lose my faith in you. And
don't set up housekeeping in a grand way. Just one old general
servant. I will come and see that you keep your health. I have capital
invested in your head, he! he! so I am bound to look after you. There,
come round in the evening and bring your principal with you!'

"'Would you mind telling me, if there is no harm in asking, what was
the good of my birth certificate in this business?' I asked, when the
little old man and I stood on the doorstep.

"Jean-Esther Van Gobseck shrugged his shoulders, smiled maliciously,
and said, 'What blockheads youngsters are! Learn, master attorney (for
learn you must if you don't mean to be taken in), that integrity and