Forgot I had it."
"You've sold like a past master, Bob," said Koster. "Thank God we're rid of the sleigh.
We can damned well do with the cash."
"Will you give me an advance of fifty marks?" I asked.
"A hundred.
You've earned it."
"You wouldn't like an advance of my grey overcoat as well, I suppose?" asked Gottfried with half-shut eyes.
"Do you want to go into hospital, you miserable, indiscreet bastard?" I retorted.
"Well, boys, I think we close for to-day," proposed Koster. "We've made enough for one day, and one should not tempt God.
What about taking Karl out and training for the race?"
Jupp had long since abandoned the petrol pump.
He was now wiping his hands excitedly.
"I suppose I take command here again, then, Herr Koster, eh?" "No, Jupp," said Otto, laughing. "You're coming too."
We drove first to the bank and paid in the cheque.
Lenz did not rest until he was sure it was in order.
Then we set off, blowing sparks from the exhaust.
Chapter VIII
I stood confronting my landlady.
"Now what is it?" demanded Frau Zalewski.
"Nothing," I replied. "I only want to pay my rent."
It was still three days before it was due and Frau Zalewski almost fell over with astonishment.
"There's something behind it," she remarked.
"Not a thing," said I. "May I have the two brocade armchairs out of your sitting room for to-morrow evening?"
She put her arms on her fat hips ready for battle.
"Now we have it!
Don't you like your room?"
"Oh yes, but I like the brocade armchairs better."
I explained that I was expecting perhaps a visit from a cousin and would like to have the room look nice.
She laughed so that her bosom simply quaked.
"Cousin?" she repeated scornfully. "And when does the cousin arrive?"
"It's not quite certain yet," said I, "but, if she does come, early of course; early in the evening, to supper.
And anyway why shouldn't there be cousins, Frau Zalewski?"
"There are such things," she replied; "but one doesn't borrow armchairs for them."
"Well, I do," I contested. "I've a very strong family sense."
"You look like it.
Rum drinkers that you all are.
You can have the brocade armchairs.
Put the red plush in the parlour for the time being."
"Thank you very much.
I'll put them all back to-morrow.
The carpet as well." "Carpet?" She turned round. "Who said a word about a carpet?"
"I did.
And you did yourself, just now."
She looked at me indignantly.
"But they belong together," said I. "The armchairs stand on it, you see."
"Herr Lohkamp," declared Frau Zalewski majestically, "don't push it too far.
Moderation in all things, as Zalewski, rest his soul, used to say.
You might take that to heart too."
I knew that the late Zalewski, rest his soul, despite ,his motto, literally drank himself to death.
His wife had on other occasions told me so often enough.