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Updated: May 5, 2025
"Na, na, na!" he shrilly commented. "Here it is wrong!" And, grabbing up a slice of chalk, he made a deft swoop toward the material. Suddenly his arm stayed in mid air and he laid down the chalk with a muscular effort. "I think I take this home," he firmly announced. "Heinrich, you come back after the work. Just now we go with Mr. Gamble to Schoppenvoll's and have a glass of Rheinthranen!"
Ersten stoutly, and then he laughed with considerable heartiness, pleased immensely with his own joke and not noticing that it was more than half Johnny's. After all, Johnny had only implied it; he had said it! Accordingly he relented a trifle. "From four to half-past five, at Schoppenvoll's, I play skat," he added.
"I doubt it," he rejoined. "Ersten has just lost the coat cutter who helped him build up his business, and he's soured on everything in the world but Schoppenvoll's and skat and Rheinthranen." "Could I learn to play skat in about a day?" inquired Johnny. "You have no German ancestors, have you?" retorted Close. "No." "Then you couldn't learn it in a thousand years!"
Ersten listened carefully with frowns at some parts. "Well, I try it," he dubiously promised. They were in front of Schoppenvoll's now; and Johnny, noting Ersten's fretfulness, proved himself a keen student of psychology by suggesting: "I'm thirsty for that special drink of yours, Ersten; but suppose we put it off till after I've brought Schnitt."
"If you come about such a business, with good recommendations from my customers, I talk with you. Otherwise not." "I'll talk any place you say," consented Johnny. "Where do you lunch?" "At August Schoppenvoll's," replied Mr. Ersten with no hint of an intention to disclose where August Schoppenvoll's place might be. "At lunch-time I talk no business; I eat."
"I have to find his weak spot," Johnny persisted. "If you'll just make him talk with me I'll do the rest." Close shook his head and sighed. "I'll try," he agreed, "but I feel about as hopeful as I would be of persuading a bull to sleep in a red blanket." Johnny had caught Close as he was leaving his club for home, and they went round immediately to Schoppenvoll's.
Johnny Gamble, keen as he was, did not quite understand it; but, nevertheless, he had penetration enough to stroll nonchalantly out into the show-room, where Louis and Heinrich presently joined him, chattering like a Kaffe-klatsch; and they all walked round to Schoppenvoll's.
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