"That's what he will say--but he won't do it."

"What is it?" exploded the shocked Ersten. "You say he says he will
come back to work in this place, but he won't do it! That is
foolishness!"

"No, it isn't," insisted Johnny. "Now listen carefully. Schnitt
says: 'I have come back to work.' You say: 'In this place?' Schnitt
says: 'Yes.' Then you tell him that he must take a month to rest up
his eyes."

"But must I do his coat cutting for a month yet?" protested the
abused Ersten. "Nobody can do it in New York for my customers but
Heinrich Schnitt and me."

"It may not be a month. Just now he might take some of your more
important work home, where the light is better. That would be
working for you in this place."

"Well, maybe," admitted Ersten puffing out his cheeks in frowning
consideration.

Johnny held his breath as he approached the crucial observation.

"By the time his eyes are rested you may have a better shop for the
old man to work in."

Ersten fixed him with a burning glare.