But the thing was neglected yesterday; I must produce my little compliment at dinner; and, as you very well know, a rich marriage is not a thing to be neglected.' There followed a pause, during which the dealer seemed to weigh this statement incredulously.

The ticking of many clocks among the curious lumber of the shop, and the faint rushing of the cabs in a near thoroughfare, filled up the interval of silence.
'Well, sir,' said the dealer, 'be it so.

You are an old customer after all; and if, as you say, you have the chance of a good marriage, far be it from me to be an obstacle.

Here is a nice thing for a lady now,' he went on, 'this hand glass--fifteenth century, warranted; comes from a good collection, too; but I reserve the name, in the interests of my customer, who was just like yourself, my dear sir, the nephew and sole heir of a remarkable collector.' The dealer, while he thus ran on in his dry and biting voice, had stooped to take the object from its place; and, as he had done so, a shock had passed through Markheim, a start both of hand and foot, a sudden leap of many tumultuous passions to the face.

It passed as swiftly as it came, and left no trace beyond a certain trembling of the hand that now received the glass.
'A glass,' he said hoarsely, and then paused, and repeated it more clearly.