Emil thanked him, and in a very short time he was completely at home
with him and with his room; he looked at all his things, asked him
about almost every one of them, where he had bought it, and what was
its value. He helped him to shave, observing that it was a mistake not
to let his moustache grow; and finally told him a number of details
about his mother, his sister, Pantaleone, the poodle Tartaglia, and
all their daily life. Every semblance of timidity vanished in Emil; he
suddenly felt extraordinarily attracted to Sanin--not at all because
he had saved his life the day before, but because he was such a nice
person! He lost no time in confiding all his secrets to Sanin. He
expatiated with special warmth on the fact that his mother was set
on making him a shopkeeper, while he _knew_, knew for certain, that
he was born an artist, a musician, a singer; that Pantaleone even
encouraged him, but that Herr Klueber supported mamma, over whom he had
great influence; that the very idea of his being a shopkeeper really
originated with Herr Klueber, who considered that nothing in the world
could compare with trade! To measure out cloth--and cheat the public,
extorting from it '_Narren--oder Russen Preise_' (fools'--or Russian
prices)--that was his ideal! [Footnote: In former days--and very
likely it is not different now--when, from May onwards, a great number
of Russians visited Frankfort, prices rose in all the shops, and were
called 'Russians',' or, alas! 'fools' prices.']

'Come! now you must come and see us!' he cried, directly Sanin had
finished his toilet and written his letter to Berlin.

'It's early yet,' observed Sanin.

'That's no matter,' replied Emil caressingly. 'Come along! We'll go to
the post--and from there to our place. Gemma will be so glad to see