Here you sit-open-mouthed; and I have told you nothing that you might not have found out for yourself." "You are a perfect cask of wisdom!" exclaimed the dwarf.
"And now you will go away," said Hekt, "and reveal your schemes to your mistress and the Regent, and they will be astonished at your cleverness.
To-day you still know that I have shown you what you have to do; to-morrow you will have forgotten it; and the day after to-morrow you will believe yourself possessed by the inspiration of the nine great Gods.

I know that; but I cannot give anything for nothing.

You live by your smallness, another makes his living with his hard hands, I earn my scanty bread by the thoughts of my brain.

Listen! when you have half won Paaker, and Ani shows himself inclined to make use of him, then say to him that I may know a secret--and I do know one, I alone--which may make the Mohar the sport of his wishes, and that I may be disposed to sell it." "That shall be done! certainly, mother," cried the dwarf.

"What do you wish for ?" "Very little," said the old woman.