“Daughter, or no daughter, I want a matter of a couple of thousand florins,--no objection to a trifle more, of course,--and wish to know how you can let me have them.” “The Margraf was here two week ago, and he say to me, 'Lazarus,' say he,--'Lazarus, where is your goot friend Davis?' 'Highness,' say I, 'dat I know not.' Den he say, 'I will find him, if I go to Jerusalem;' and I say, 'Go to Jerusalem.'” “What did he want with him?” “What he want?--what every one want, and what nobody get, except how he no like--ha! ha! ha! Ach, der Davis!” Beecher rose from his seat, uncertain how to take this continued inattention to his demand. He stood for a moment in hesitation, his eyes wandering over the walls where the pictures were hanging. “Ah! if you do care for art, now you suit yourself, and all for a noting! I sell all dese,--dat Gerard Dow, dese two Potters, de leetle Cuyp,--a veritable treasure, and de Mieris,--de best he ever painted, and de rest, wit de land-schaft of Both, for eighty tousand seven hundred florins. It is a schenk--a gift away--noting else.” “You forget, my excellent friend Stein,” said Beecher, with more assurance than he had yet assumed, “that it was to receive and not spend money I came here this morning.” “You do a leetle of all de two--a leetle of both, so to say,” replied the Jew. “What moneys you want?” “Come, this is speaking reasonably. Davis's letter mentions a couple of thousand florins; but if you are inclined to stretch the amount to five, or even four thousand, we 'll not fall out about the terms.” “How you mean--no fall out about de terms?” said the other, sharply. “I meant that for a stray figure or so, in the way of discount, we should n't disagree. You may, in fact, make your own bargain.” “Make my own bargain, and pay myself too,” muttered the Jew. “Ach, der Davis, how he would laugh!--ha! ha! ha!” “Well, I don't see much to laugh at, old gent, except it be at my own folly, to stand here so long chaffering about these paltry two thousand florins. And now I say, 'Yea or nay, will you book up, or not?'” “Will you buy de Cuyp and de Wouvermans and de Ostade?--dat is the question.” “Egad, if you furnish the ready, I 'll buy the Cathedral and the Cursaal. I 'm not particular as to the investment when the cash is easily come at.” “De cash is very easy to come at,” said the Jew, with a strange grin. “You 're a trump, Lazarus!” cried Beecher, in ecstasy at his good fortune. “If I had known you some ten years ago, I 'd have been another man to-day. I was always looking out for one really fair, honester-hearted fellow to deal with, but I never met with him till now.” “How you have it,--gold or notes?” said Lazarus. “Well, a little of both, I think,” said Beecher, his eyes greedily devouring the glittering little columns of gold before him. “How your title?--how your name?” asked Stein, taking up a pen. “My name is Annesley Beecher. You may write me the 'Honorable Annesley Beecher.'” “Lord of--”