"Evidently you can," replied the Count, whose confidence had returned to him.
"I know: but what I mean is, will you listen to me for ten minutes?"
"That depends very much upon what you talk about. Who are you?" asked the Count.
"I'm a sort of gnome."
"A gnome?"
"A sort of gnome; I won't enter into particulars, because they won't interest you."
The apparition hesitated, evidently hoping the Count would assure him that any particulars of the gnome's private life would interest him deeply; but he only said—
"Not the least bit in the world."
"You are poor," said the gnome.
"Very," replied the Count.
"Ha!" said he, "some people are. Now I am rich."
"Are you?" asked the Count, beginning to take an interest in the matter.
"I am, and would make you rich too; only you must help me to a wife."
"What! Repay good for evil? Never!"
He didn't mean this, only he thought it was a smart thing to say.
"Not exactly," said the gnome; "I shan't give you the gold until you have found me the wife; so that I shall be repaying evil with good."
"Yes," said the count musingly: "I didn't look at it in that light at all. I see it quite from your point of view. But why don't you find a wife for yourself?"
