Page:The Career of a Nihilist.djvu/43

“I did not expect to see you at all, Mr David,—to-day, I mean. I thought you would come to-morrow.”

“I had something to look after,” said the young man, seating himself upon an easy-chair of doubtful colour and greasy appearance which stood against the wall.

The lean and long Shmul perched himself upon a high wooden stool with one leg wanting.

“Are your friends with you?” he inquired.

“Yes.”

“All three of them?”

“All three. Two men and one lady. I left them at Foma’s. We want to be on the other side early to-morrow. You have arranged everything, I hope?”

“Yes, it’s all right. They’ll be on the other side at eight, and no mistake. But———”

Shmul stopped hesitatingly, and rubbed the left side of his nose, whilst he looked inquiringly in David’s face.

“What now?” asked the other, looking up.

“Well, times are hard, you know, and the soldiers are very greedy. I had much, oh, so much, trouble to bring them round,” said Shmul, pathetically raising his eyes to the ceiling, “and I had to pay them more than———”

“If so, you were wrong, Shmul, and you made a serious blunder,” said David carelessly.

“Why? Is there any blunder in trying to serve you promptly?”

“Certainly not. But you must keep to fixed prices. That’s the rule of the trade. The more you give, the more they’ll ask. Mind that, friend, and stick to your terms. That's the rule of the trade.”

“It’s all very well for you to say so, Mr David!” exclaimed the smuggler spitefully, warming to his role of offended virtue. “But how could I help yielding? They are the masters, not I.”

“A wise man must know how to make them give in,” said David, imperturbably. “Suppose,” he added, with a spark of humour in his large eyes, “you asked me to pay you more than is the rule. I don’t say you will, but suppose you did. Well, I should answer, that the fish goes where the water is deeper, and a buyer where the ware is cheaper. Business is business. The frontier is long, and the soldiers many. If a man will not stick to the fixed price, why should you stick to him? Isn’t it so?”