"Well Domnule," remarked Onucz sulkily, "since we have placed our heads
in the girl's hands we must beware of ever offending her."
But now the assayer came up, bringing with him a nice elaborate
calculation on a black slate, showing exactly how much pure gold Onucz
had handed in to the coining department, how much it would be worth when
coined and deducting three per cent for expenses, how much he was to
receive in cash by way of exchange.
"And now go and let the cashier pay you what is due to you, Onucz," said
Fatia Negra.
And so while he remained behind for the purpose of settling his account
Anicza and Fatia Negra retired to a little adjoining chamber. There
would be plenty of time for two lovers to talk over their love affairs
while so many gold coins were being counted out.
"Where have you been? it's a whole month since I saw you?" asked Anicza
sitting on the adventurer's knee. "Do you know how long a month is to
me? First quarter, new moon, full moon, last quarter, all this have I
watched through and never saw you once, where have you been?"
"I have been abroad for those new machines. That is a business one
cannot entrust to another."
"Are there pretty girls abroad?--Might you not fall in love with them?"
"Hush! Those are not the questions that men should be asked."
"Why not?"
"Because men are not in the habit of answering them.
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