"And let us enjoy the gifts which a beneficent goddess was ready to pour into our lap," added Pythagoras dulcetly from the floor. "Let's hear the story," concluded Gutter-rat. The others clapped their mugs against the table-top and shouted: "The story! the story!" to the accompaniment of din that drowned all other noises in the room. Pythagoras from his lowly position began his narrative in a faint, injured tone of voice. He related the incidents of this night from the moment when the chance of possessing oneself with but little trouble of a tulip bulb worth fifteen thousand florins was so airily flouted, down to the awful moment when a young and beauteous lady made offers of influence and of money which were equally airily refused. Gutter-rat and the others listened attentively. They specially relished the exciting incidents connected with the affray in Dam Straat, the breaking of Jan Tiele's nose and the dispersal of the mob with the aid of a lighted torch. "Bravo! splendid!" they shouted at intervals and loudly expressed their regret at having missed such furious fun. Socrates threw in a word or two now and then, when Pythagoras did not fully explain his own valorous position in the fight, but Diogenes said nothing at all; he allowed his comrade to tell the tale his own way; the recollection of it seemed to afford him vast amusement for he hummed a lively tune to himself all the while. Pythagoras now was mimicking his friend, throwing into this performance all the disgust which he felt. "Raise thy hand to my lips, mejuffrouw," he said mincing his words, "momentarily I have not the use of mine own." His round, beady eyes appealed to his listeners for sympathy, and there is no doubt that he got that in plenty. Gutter-rat more especially highly disapproved of the dénouement of what might have proved a lucrative adventure. "The rich jongejuffrouw might even have fallen in love with you," he said sternly to Diogenes, "and endowed you with her father's wealth and influence." "That's just my complaint," said Pythagoras, "but no! what else do you think he said earlier in the evening?" "Well?" "To-night we'll behave like gentlemen," quoted the other with ever-growing disgust, "and not like common thieves." "Why to-night?" queried Gutter-rat in amazement. "Why more especially to-night?" Pythagoras and Socrates both shrugged their shoulders and suggested no explanation. After which there was more vigorous clapping of mugs against the table-top and Diogenes was loudly summoned to explain. "Why to-night? why to-night?" was shouted at him from every side. Diogenes' face became for one brief moment quite grave--quite grave be it said, but for his eyes which believe me could not have looked grave had they tried.