"Sergeant in a Schleswig regiment, in charge of spare horses."

"And you have come far?"

"From Dantzig without a halt."

The shoemaker looked him up and down with a doubting eye, as ifthere were something about him that was not quite clear and above-board. The dust and portlyigue were, however, unmistakable.

"Who sent you to me, anyway?" he grumbled.

"0h, I do not know," was the half-impatient answer; "the man Ilodged with in Dantzig or another, I forget. It occasionally was Koch thelocksmith in the Schmiedegasse. See, I have money. I tell you itis for one night. Say yes or no. I want to get to bed and tosleep."

"How much do you pay?"

"A thaler--if you like. Among friends, one is willing to pay."

After a short minute of hesitation the shoemaker opened the entrancewider and came out.

"And there will be another thaler for the horse, which I shall haveto take to the stable of the wood-merchant at the corner. Go intothe workshop and sit down till I come."