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182 her to Magda in obvious doubt. Emma gave a laugh of triumph at her sister, turned about, and, holding herself very erect, she disappeared. Meanwhile Magda had anxiously seized Kienast's arm, but Diederich came with a glass full of punch in his hand and insisted upon Kienast's cementing the new relationship by their drinking out of each other's glasses with intertwined arms.

The next morning he called for him at his hotel to come and have an early glass of beer. "Please restrain your longing for the little girl until midday. Now we must have a few words as one man to another." In Klappsch's Bierstube he explained the situation in detail: Twenty-five thousand marks in cash on the day of the wedding—the documents could be inspected at any time—and one-fourth of the business in common with Emma. "So it's only one-eighth," Kienast observed. To which Diederich retorted: "Am I to slave for you people for nothing?" And an uneasy silence ensued.

Diederich restored the proper mood. "Your health, Friederich!" "Here's to you, Diederich!" replied Kienast. Then something seemed to occur to Diederich. "Of course you have an easy means of increasing your share in the business by putting your money into it. How about your savings? With a huge salary like yours!" Kienast declared that he did not object to the idea on principle, but his contract with Büschli & Co. was still valid. He also expected a considerable increase of salary in the course of the year, and it would be a crime against himself to give notice now. "But if I do produce the money I must have an active hand in the business myself. Although I have every confidence in you, my dear Diederich&hellip;"

Diederich admitted his point, and Kienast in his turn made a suggestion. "If you were simply to fix the dowry at fifty thousand, then Magda would renounce her share in the business." To this Diederich returned an unconditional refusal.