"It'll take longer to do the mutton, then," replied his visitor
dryly.

Gluck was very much puzzled by the behavior of his guest; it was
such a strange mixture of coolness and humility. He turned away
at the string meditatively for another five minutes.

"That mutton looks very nice," said the old gentleman at length.
"Can't you give me a little bit?"

"Impossible, sir," said Gluck.

"I'm very hungry," continued the old gentleman. "I've had
nothing to eat yesterday nor to-day. They surely couldn't miss
a bit from the knuckle!"

He spoke in so very melancholy a tone that it quite melted
Gluck's heart. "They promised me one slice to-day, sir," said
he; "I can give you that, but not a bit more."

"That's a good boy," said the old gentleman again.

Then Gluck warmed a plate and sharpened a knife. "I don't care
if I do get beaten for it," thought he. Just as he had cut a
large slice out of the mutton there came a tremendous rap at the
door. The old gentleman jumped off the hob as if it had
suddenly become inconveniently warm. Gluck fitted the slice into
the mutton again, with desperate efforts at exactitude, and ran
to open the door.