To this no one knew exactly what to answer, till Pix cried angrily, "I do not like his accepting such an invitation.

He belongs to us and to the office.

He will learn no good among such people." "These dancing-lessons must be curious scenes," chimed in Specht; "frivolous in the extreme, mere love-making and dueling--for which we know Wohlfart has always had a turn.

Some fine morning we shall have him going out with pistols under his arm, and not returning on his feet." "Nonsense!" replied the irritable Pix; "they don't fight more than other people." "Then he will have to speak French ?" "Why not Russ ?" asked Mr.Pix.
At which the two fell into a dispute as to what was the medium of communication in the great lady's _salon_.

However, all the colleagues agreed in considering that Wohlfart had taken an exceedingly bold and mysterious step, and one pregnant with calamitous consequences.
Nor was this the only discussion on the subject.