dare to go himself.

"I don't know about that," said Jost, "but now listen to me. Do you know
how a fellow who hasn't so much as a penny in his purse, can in one night
get enough to build a big stone house, like the one the landlord of the
lion has in Fohrensee, and make himself a gentleman all at once? I know
how; I know somebody who has explained it all to me, and I tell you,
Dietrich, you have only to say the word, and you can do the same, and give
up the whole saddler's business. You can afford to risk something; you're
not stupid; and with you it will all go right in a twinkling."

"Do you mean by card-playing?" asked Dietrich rather contemptuously, for
he had made up his mind about that long ago.

"No indeed, something very different. It is done on paper. You have
nothing to do but put some money down, and you can win two or three times
as much in no time."

"And lose _four_ times, I suppose?"

"There's no losing about it;" said Jost confidently, "You're sure to win
in the end, if you keep on long enough. It doesn't signify if you do lose
a little at first--you can afford to wait."

"I think my trade is surer of winning;" said Dietrich.

"Oh yes, sure enough!" said Jost scornfully. "It is a pretty sight to see
a fellow like you, sitting there year after year on the saddler's bench,
scraping all the skin off his hands; and with all the income you have,
too! why in ten years you won't have as much as will build you a house