His house was large, having been built to entertain customers who came from great distances to buy his silks.
Max and I had expected to leave Basel when our wounds were entirely healed, but we changed our minds after I had talked with Franz.

The conversation that brought about this change occurred one morning while the merchant and I were sitting in his shop.

He handed me a purse filled with gold, saying:-- "Here is twice the sum I agreed to pay.

I beg that you accept it since I shall still be in your debt." I knew by the weight of the gold that it was a larger sum than I had ever before possessed.

I did not like to accept it, but I could not bring myself to refuse a thing so important to Max.
"We should not accept this from you, good Franz, but--but--" "The boy saved my life and my fortune," he interrupted, "and I am really ashamed to offer you so small a sum.