There was a knock; and, in an instant, to the consternation of both, Dritzhn and Hielman opened the door, and, without ceremony, entered. Gutenberg was surprised with block and graving tools in hand, and the “Historia” open before him. “Ah! what have we here?” asked Dritzhn, stepping up to him; “something new in mystery?” “Excuse me,” replied the inventor, coloring, “if I waive an explanation for the present.” “But,” said Hielman, drawing nearer and speaking in excited tones,--for he was a close man in money matters,--“thou didst engage to teach us thy arts, if we would pay thee.” “It is true,” answered Gutenberg, “that I did covenant to show thee my arts of the lapidary and mirror business, but that agreement did not cover other arts which are only partly known to myself.” “Be persuaded to do the fair thing, good master,” said Dritzhn. “In paying thee,” added Hielman, “we understood that thou wouldst teach us all thy arts. We want our money’s worth.” “I have found it necessary,” observed Gutenberg, not appearing to notice the remark, “to be favored with quiet and seclusion in pursuing any new branch of business, and I cannot succeed in this unless it be kept a profound secret. Still money is needed to carry it on.” This only made Dritzhn more eager to learn the nature of the enterprise; and he answered, “If that be all, we can keep thy secret, furnish funds, and perhaps help thee in the work.” Gutenberg, with many misgivings, finally decided to trust them, first obtaining from each a formal pledge of secrecy. Then producing his cards and cuts, he explained, step by step, the process of making them. His callers expressed great interest and admiration. “I can be of service in executing the figures,” said Dritzhn, “as I am a draughtsman.” “You could assist me in that direction,” said the inventor; “but I am now mostly engaged in engraving tablets for books.” “Making books by engraving!” exclaimed Dritzhn. “When will the marvels cease?” “I have invented a way of imprinting books by a process unknown to any others. Only block picture-books with inscriptions have approached the idea.” Gutenberg then showed the “Historia” on which he was working. “Master,” cried Dritzhn in amazement, “a man of such genius will surely realize a fortune! Why, it would take the wages of a common artisan two years to buy such a work; and you have a large part of it done in a few weeks.” But Hielman, afraid of new projects, was less sanguine. “This will succeed,” urged Dritzhn aside to him, “and we shall want a share in it. Since also we know the secret, and have bound ourselves by an oath, we cannot honorably turn back. It only remains to aid Master Gutenberg to the extent of our power.” Then turning to Gutenberg, he said,-- “But will not this art do away with copying?”