An overgrown fat boy, with his sleeves rolled to his shoulders, brought three shining glasses, three bottles of Glanzen Wasser and a corkscrew.
It was at this most inopportune time that Johnny Gamble spoke.
"Well, Mr.Ersten," he cheerfully observed, "I've come round to make you an offer for that lease." Mr.Ersten, his gnarled eyebrows bent upon the sacred ceremony about to be performed, looked up with a grunt--and immediately returned to his business.

Mr.Kurzerhosen glanced round for an instant in frowning appeal.

Mr.Schoppenvoll paid no attention whatever to the interruption.

He gave an exhibition of cork-pulling which a watchmaker might have envied for its delicacy; he poured the tall glasses half-full of the clear amber fluid and opened the bottles of Glanzen Wasser.

The three friends, Schoppenvoll now sitting, clinked their steins solemnly and emptied them.