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172 the look. They no longer spoke to one another. One morning at eleven o'clock, when Diederich was sitting at early lunch, the servant brought in a visiting card: Frederich Kienast, Manager, Büschli & Co., Eschweiler. While Diederich was still turning it round between his fingers, the visitor entered. "Excuse me," he said, "there must be some mistake. I have been shown in here, but I have come on a matter of business."

Diederich had recovered his presence of mind. "Very likely, but it doesn't matter. Won't you come right in? I am Dr. Hessling. This is my mother and my sisters, Emma and Magda."

The gentleman approached and bowed to the ladies. "My name is Frederich Kienast," he murmured. He was short, with a fair beard, and wore a brown morning suit of woolly material. The three ladies smiled amiably. "May I set a place for you?" Frau Hessling asked. "Of course," said Diederich, "you will have lunch with us, Herr Kienast, won't you?"

"I cannot refuse," declared the representative of Büschli & Co., rubbing his hands. Magda helped him to some kippered herring, which he praised while the first mouthful was still on his fork.

Laughing innocently, Diederich asked: "Don't you like to have a little something to drink when you are doing business?" Herr Kienast also laughed. "I never drink much when on business." Diederich grinned. "Well, in that case we shall not quarrel." "It all depends, doesn't it?" And Kienast's slily challenging words were accompanied by a glance at Magda, who blushed.

Diederich filled the guest's glass with beer. "I suppose you have other business in Netzig?" "You never can tell," said Kienast evasively.

Tentatively Diederich remarked: "You won't do anything with Klüsing in Gausenfeld, he's had a slump." As the other