"Not I, seeing how you cling to the dirt on you."
This was also accepted as a joke and he wagged his head and winked. "It takes too much time to clean things; and time's money," he replied, with one of his repulsive leers. "But I like you. You say what you mean. I'll take a hundred marks from you."
"Will you? You'll be cleverer than I take you for, if you do."
"But there's the----" He was going to repeat about the risk, but checked the word as bad business; and a long chaffering began in which he tried to squeeze me first to seventy-five marks, then to fifty, coming down by tens and fives to twenty-five.
He stuck at that point a long time; and lest he should think even that sum suspicious, I held out at the five marks to which I had increased my offer during the bargaining.
Once more he let me all but leave the shop, and when he again called me back I refused to go and struck out a fresh line.
"I'll tell you why I've stopped so long as it is, Graun," I said. "I've never met any one quite like you before, and you're a very interesting character. I do something at times in theatricals and you're worth studying; but I've had enough of you now. It's been worth a few marks to have such a chance as this, and, while I don't care two straws whether I get what brought me here or not, I'll give you five marks for the fun I've had," and to his consummate astonishment I put the money in his dirty palm. "If I were you, I'd spend it on soap or something that will get rid of some of this beastly stink."
"You give me this?" he cried in amazement.
It was the turning point of the conference. He clawed hold of my arm. "You can come and study me any time you like at the same price," he said with a grin. "I don't mind how often. And look here, you shall have the card if you'll make it ten marks."
"Oh, no. Oh, no. Another ten," he cried greedily.
I shook my head at first and then smiled. "I tell you what I'll do. I'll give you the other ten, if you'll throw in another cursing and lamentation scene, like the last. Five for that and five for the card. You do it so beautifully, Graun; and it's all put on, I know."
He grinned, but shook his head. "It wasn't put on."
"You're a dirty, stinking, money-grabbing Jew, Graun," I cried, with every appearance of fierce earnestness.