old fritz and the new era-第75部分

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ineffable　scorn；　and　whispered　to　her：　〃Suffer　yet　awhile；　you　shall
soon　be　released。　This　miserable　trash　will　disappear。　Only　be　firm…
…I　hear　already　the　cracking　of　the　house　which　will　soon　fall　a
wreck　at　your　feet！〃

Others　heard　it　also。　As　preparations　were　being　made　for　a　grand
dinner；　with　which　the　Baron　and　Baroness　von　Ebenstreit　would　close
the　season；　the　former　head　bookkeeper　of　the　baron　appeared　at　the
palace；　demanding；　with　anxious　mien；　to　see　the　principal。

Just　at　the　moment　the　baron　and　his　wife　were　in　the　large
reception…room；　which　the　decorator　was　splendidly　arranging；　under
the　direction　of　the　baroness；　with　flowers；　festoons；　columns；　and
statues。　Ebenstreit　was　watching　admiringly　the　tasteful　and　costly
display　as　the　footman　announced　the　former　book…keeper　and　present
banker；　Splittgerber。

〃He　must　come　at　another　time；〃　cried　Ebenstreit；　impatiently；　〃I　am
busy　now；　I〃

〃Excuse　me；　baron；〃　replied　an　earnest；　gentle　voice　behind　him；
〃that　I　have　followed　the　lackey　and　entered　unbidden。　I　come　on
urgent　business；　and　I　must　indeed　speak　with　you　instantly！〃

〃Be　brief　then；　at　least；〃　cried　Ebenstreit；　peevishly。　〃You　see
that　my　wife　is　here；　and　we　are　very　busy　arranging　for　a　grand
dinner　to…day。〃

Herr　Splittgerber；　instead　of　replying；　cast　a　peculiarly　sad；
searching　glance　through　the　beautifully…adorned　room；　and　at　the
two　lackeys；　who　stood　on　each　side　of　the　wide　folding…doors。

〃Permit　that　these　servants　withdraw；　and　order　them　to　close　the
doors；〃　said　the　book…keeper；　almost　commandingly。　Ebenstreit；
overruled　by　the　solemn　earnestness；　obeyed　against　his　will。

〃Would　you　like　me　to　leave　also；　sir？〃　said　Marie；　with　a　calm；
haughty　manner。　〃You　have　only　to　ask　it　and　the　baron　will；
undoubtedly；　accord　your　request。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　I　beg　you　to　remain；〃　quietly　replied
Splittgerber；　〃for　what　I　have　to　say　concerns　you　and　your　husband
equally。〃

〃Now；　then；　I　beg　you　to　say　it　quickly；〃　cried　Ebenstreit；
impatiently；　〃I　repeat；　that　we　are　very　busy　with　preparing　for　to…
day's　festival。〃

〃You　will　not　give　any　fete　to…day；〃　said　Splittgerber；　solemnly。

Ebenstreit；　cringing　and　frightened；　gazed　at　the　old　man　who　looked
sadly　at　him。

The　baroness　laughed　aloud；　sneeringly。　〃My　dear　sir；　your　tone　and
manner　remind　me　of　the　wicked　spirit　at　the　horrible　moment　in　the
story　when　be　comes　to　demand　the　bartered　soul；　and　the　enchanted
castle　falls　a　wreck！〃

〃Your　comparison　is　an　apt　one；　baroness；〃　sighed　the　old　man。〃I
came　to　you；　baron；　because　I　loved　your　father。　I　have　served　your
house　thirty　years；　and　amassed　the　little　I　had　to　commence
business　with　in　your　service。　Moreover；　when　you　so　suddenly
dismissed　me；　you　not　only　gave　me　my　salary　as　a　pension；　but　you
funded　the　annuity　with　a　considerable　sum；　which　makes　me；　through
your　house；　independent　in　means。〃

〃You　may　thank　my　wife　for　that。　She　demanded；　when　I　dismissed　you；
that　I　should　compensate　you　with　the　liberality　of　a　true
nobleman。〃

〃Oh；　would　that　you　had　not　done　it；　baroness！〃　cried　Splittgerber
〃would　that　you　had　permitted　the　old　faithful　pioneer　in　the
business　to　remain　by　your　husband！　He　might　have　warded　off　this
misfortune　and　saved　you　by　his　experience　and　advice。〃

〃For　this　very　reason　I　demanded　your　removal。　You　permitted
yourself　to　proffer　advice　which　I　felt　did　not　become　you；〃　replied
Marie；　with　a　strange　smile　of　triumph。

〃And；　I　repeat；　would　that　you　had　not　done　it！〃　sighed　the　old　man。
〃I　came　to　warn　you；　to　conjure　you；　to　save　yourselvesto　flee
while　there　is　yet　time。〃

〃Oh；　mercy！　what　has　happened？〃　cried　Ebenstreit；　terrified。

〃The　banking…house　of　Ebenstreit；　founded　under　the　name　of　Ludwig；
associated　with　Ehlert　of　Amsterdam；　four　months　since；　to　buy　and
load　ships　for　the　Calcutta　market。　Herr　Ebenstreit　gathered
together　the　last　wrecks　of　his　fortune　remaining　from　his　ruinous
speculations；　to　win　enormously　in　this　investment。　Besides；　he
indorsed　the　notes　of　the　Amsterdam　house　for　the　sum　of　eighty
thousand　dollars；　which　has　been　drawn；　so　that　their　notes　are
protested　there。　Herr　Ebenstreit　will　have　to　pay　this　sum！〃

〃What　else？〃　asked　Ebenstreit；　almost　breathless。

〃The　house　of　Ehlert；　in　Amsterdam；　has　failed；　the　principal　has
fled　with　the　coffers；　the　notes　for　eighty　thousand　dollars　were
protested；　and　you；　baron；　must　pay　this　sum　to…day；　or　declare
yourself　a　bankrupt；　and　go　to　prison　for　debt。〃

Instantaneously　a　suppressed　cry　and　a　laugh　were　heard。　Ebenstreit
sank　upon　a　seat；　concealing　his　pallid　face　with　his　hands；　while
Marie　stood　at　his　side；　her　face　beaming　with　joy。

〃I　am　lost；　I　do　not　possess　the　eighth　part　of　that　sum！　I　cannot
pay　it。　I　must　submit；　for　there　are　no　further　means　to　prevent
it。〃

〃No；〃　replied　Marie；　with　haughty　tranquillity；　〃you　have　no　further
means　to　prevent　it。　The　rich　banker　Ebenstreit　will　leave　this
house；　no　longer　his　own；　to　enter　the　debtor's　prison　poor　as　a
beggarnay；　worse；　a　defrauder！〃

〃Oh；　how　cruel　you　are！〃　groaned　Ebenstreit。

〃Did　you　say；　baroness；　that　this　house　is　no　longer　his？〃　asked
Splittgerber；　alarmed。

〃No；〃　she　triumphantly　cried。　〃It　belongs　to　me；　and　all　that　is　in
itthe　pictures；　statues；　silver；　diamonds；　and　pearls。　Oh；　I　am
still　a　rich　woman！〃

〃And　do　you　mean　to　retain　this　wealth　if　your　husband　becomes
bankrupt？　Do　you　not　possess　a　common　interest？〃　asked　Splittgerber。

〃No；　thank　Heaven；　the　community　of　interest　was　given　up　a　year
since；〃　cried　Ebenstreit；　joyfully。　〃Baroness　von　Ebenstreit　is　the
lawful　possessor　of　this　house　and　furniture。　I　was　not　so
indiscreet　as　you　supposed。　I　have　at　least　secured　this　to　my　wife；
and　she　will　be　a　rich　woman　even　if　I　fail；　and　will　not　let　me
starve。　I　shall　divide　about　ten　per　cent　with　my　creditors；　but　my
wife　will　be　rich　enough　for　us　both。〃

〃This　gives　me　to　understand　that　you　intend　to　make　a　fraudulent
bankruptcy。　You　have　settled　every　thing　upon　your　wife　to　save
yourself　from　the　unhappy　consequences　of　your　failure。　You　will
still　be　a　rich　man　if　your　wife　should　sell　her　house；　works　of
art；　diamonds；　gold　and　silver　service；　and　equipages。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　a　very　rich　man；〃　said　Marie。　〃In　the　last　few　weeks　I
have　had　my　property　estimated；　and　it　would　at　least　bring　three
hundred　thousand　dollars。〃

〃If　the　baron　only　possessed　this；　he　could　pay　his　creditors；　and
have　a　small　amount　over；　sufficient　to　live　upon　economically　and
genteelly。　But　you　would　rather　enjoy　splendor；　and　are　not
particular　about　living　honorably。　You　will　undoubtedly　sell　your
property；　and　go　to　Paris；　to　revel　in　luxury　and　pleasure；　while
your　defrauded　creditors　may；　through　you　come　to　poverty　and　want。…
…Baron；　I　now　see　that　your　wife　did　well　to　bring　about　my　removal。
I　should　have；　above　all　things；　given　you　the　unwelcome　advice　to
sustain　your　honor　unblemished；　and　dispose　of　your　costly
surroundings　for　the　benefit　of　your　creditors；　that　when　you　die　it
may　be　with　a　clear　conscience。　You　prefer　a　life　of　luxury　and
ease；　rocking　your　conscience　to　sleep　until　God　will　rouse　it　to　a
fearful　awaking。　But　do　as　you　like。　I　came　here　to　offer　you
assistance；　thinking　that　you　would　dispose　of　this　property；　and
after　paying　your　creditors　have　sufficient　to　live　upon。　Then　I
could　be　permitted　to　prove　my　fidelity　to　you。　I　now　see　that　I　was
a　fool。　Yet　in　parting　I　will　still　beg　of　you　to　avoid　the
unfavorable　impression　of　this　dinner。　The　bill　of　exchange　will　be
presented　at　four　o'clock；　and　the　bearer　will　not　be　satisfied　with
the　excuse　of　your　non…payment　on　account　of　dinner…company。　You
will　be　obliged　to　settle　at　once　or　be　arrested。　I　have　learned
this　from　your　chief　creditor；　and　I　begged　him　to　have　forbearance
for　you。　I　shall　now　justify　him　in　showing　you　none；　as　you　do　not
deserve　it！Farewell！〃

The　old　book…keeper　turned　with　a　slight　nod；　and　strode　away
through　the　drawing…room。

〃Have　you　nothing　to　say　to　him？　Will　you　let　him　go　thus？〃　asked
Marie；　impetuously。

〃Nothing　at　all。　What　should　I　say？〃　he　replied；　shrugging　his
shoulders。

〃Then　I　will　speak　with　him。〃　Marie　called　loudly　after
Splittgerber；　saying；　〃I　have　a　word　to　speak　to　you。〃

The　book…keeper　remained　standing　near　the　door；　and　turning　with
downcast　face；　demanded　of　Marie　what　she　wished。

〃I　have　something　to　tell　you；〃　she　replied；　with　her　usual
tranquil；　proud　demeanor；　approaching　Splittgerber；　who　regarded　her
with　severity　and　contempt；　which　she　met　with　a　gentle；　friendly
expression；　a　sweet　smile　hovering　on　her　lips。

Marie　came　close　up　to　the　old　man；　who　awaited　her　with　haughty
defiance；　and　never　advanced　one　step　to　meet　hera　lady　splendidly
bedecked　with　diamonds　and　gold…embroidered　satin。　She　whispered　a
few　words　in　his　ear。　He　started；　and；　astonished；　looked　into　her
face；　as　if　questioning　what　he　heard。　She　nodded；　smiling；　and　bent
again　to　say　a　few　words。

Suddenly　Splittgerber　seemed　metamorphosed。　His　gloomy　face
brightened　a　little；　and　his　insolent　glance　was　changed　to　one　of
deep　emotion；　Bowing　profoundly　as　he　held　the　baroness's　proffered
hand　to　take　leave；　he　pressed　it　most　respectfully　to　his　lips。

〃You　will　return　in　an　hour？〃　Marie　asked。

〃Yes；　I　shall　seek　the　gentlemen；　and　bring　them　with　me；〃　he
graciously　replied。

〃Thanks；　I　will　then　await　you。〃

Splittgerber　departed；　and　Marie　returned　to　Ebenstreit　who；　amazed；
muttered　some　unintelligible　words；　having　listened　to　her
mysterious　conversation　with　the　old　book…keeper。

〃Now　to　you；　sir！〃　said　she；　her　whole　tone　and　manner　changing　to
harsh　command；　〃the　hour　for　settling　our　accounts　has　arrivedthe
hour　that　I　have　awaited；　purchasing　it　by　four　years　of　torture；
self…contempt；　and　despair。　This　comedy　is　at　an　end。　I　will　buy　of
you　my　freedom。　Do　you　hear　me？　I　will　cast　off　these　galley…chains。
I　will　be　free！〃

〃Oh；　Marie！〃　he　cried；　retreating　in　terror；　〃with　what　fearful
detestation　you　regard　me！〃

〃Do　you　wonder　at　it？　Have　I　ever　concealed　this　hate