Schmeie Tinkeles, the unfortunate little Jew who spoke such execrable German, and whom Fink always found especial pleasure in badgering and beating down, made his appearance in the office, and, as usual, a laughable scene ensued.

All the clerks watched Fink, and chimed in with him, but Anton had to behave as though Tinkeles were a hundred miles away.

Then Mr.Schroeter gave him a commission, which obliged him to ask Fink a question, and he had to cough hard to get out the words at all.

He received a very short answer, which increased his anger.
Finally, when the dinner hour struck, Fink, who used regularly to wait till Anton came for him, walked off with Jordan, who wondered what could keep Wohlfart, to which Fink could only reply that he neither knew nor cared.
During the afternoon Anton could not avoid a few furtive glances at the haughty face opposite him.

He thought how dreadful it would be to become estranged from one he so dearly loved; but his resolve was firm as ever.
And so it happened that Fink, chancing to look up, met his friend's eyes mournfully fixed upon his face, and this touched him more than the anger of the previous night.