Ought he, as an honest man, to keep the soul he had won from Jan by
what might be called a trick? Yes, it had been a fair bargain, and
Jan had taken his price. Besides, it was not as if Jan had fashioned
his own soul; these things are chance. Why should one man be given
gold, and another be given parched peas? He has as much right to
Jan's soul as Jan ever had. He is wiser, he can do more good with it.
It was Jan's soul that loved Christina; let Jan's soul win her if it
can. And Jan's soul, listening to the argument, could not think of a
word to offer in opposition.

Christina was still asleep when Nicholas re-entered the kitchen. He
lighted the fire and cooked the breakfast and then aroused her gently.
There was no doubt it was Christina. The moment her eyes rested on
old Nicholas, there came back to her the frightened rabbit look that
had always irritated him. It irritated him now, but the irritation
was against himself.

"You were sleeping so soundly when I came in last night--" Christina
commenced.

"And you were afraid to wake me," Nicholas interrupted her. "You
thought the old curmudgeon would be cross. Listen, Christina. You
paid off yesterday the last debt your father owed. It was to an old
sailor--I had not been able to find him before. Not a cent more do
you owe, and there remains to you, out of your wages, a hundred
florins. It is yours whenever you like to ask me for it."

Christina could not understand, neither then nor during the days that
followed; nor did Nicholas enlighten her. For the soul of Jan had