"Well, if you remain so long, we can go to Odessa together. Why should you not accompany me, eh?"

"Why, you see —"

"Nonsense: you will come, won't you?"

"I rather counted upon resting after such a long and fatiguing journey."

"Very well, you shall rest here. Then you can repose at Odessa afterwards for three weeks."

"Kéraban, my friend — " began the Dutchman.

"I won't listen to you, Van Mitten. You are not going to annoy me at our very first meeting, I suppose? You know I am right, and am not easily put off."

"Yes, I know," said Van Mitten; "yet — "

"Besides,"continued his friend, "you do not know my nephew Ahmet, and you really must become acquainted with him."

"You have already spoken of your nephew to me — "

"Say rather, my son: but I have no child. Business, you know; all business. I never have had five minutes to spare to get married in."

"One minute is enough," replied Van Mitten seriously; "and very often one minute is too long."

"You will meet Ahmet at Odessa," said Kéraban. "A charming fellow. He detests business, for instance; he is somewhat of an artist, and trifles with the Muses; but charming, charming! He resembles his uncle in nothing, and obeys him without argument"

"Friend Kéraban — "

"Yes, yes; I understand: it is for his wedding that we are going to Odessa."

"His wedding!"

"Certainly. Ahmet is going to marry a lovely girl, Amasia, daughter of my banker Selim — a true Turk — like myself. We shall have a regular fête; it will be splendid. You will be there."

"But I should prefer — if —"

"It is all arranged," interrupted the inflexible Kéraban, cutting short Van Mitten's last feeble protest. "You can never have the face to resist me."

"I should like to—."