o be, Souchey. And it is
not exactly their fault neither. There are so many folks about in these
days who care nothing who goes to glory and who does not, and they are
too many for the priests."

"If the priests can't fight their own battle, I can't fight it for
them," said Souchey.

"But for the old family, Souchey, that you have known so long! Look
here; you and I between us can prevent it."

"And how is it to be done?"

"Ah! that's the question. If I felt that I was talking to a real
Christian that had a care for the poor girl's soul, I would tell you in
a moment."

"So I am; only her soul isn't my business."

"Then I cannot tell you this. I can't do it unless you acknowledge that
her welfare as a Christian is the business of us all. Fancy, Souchey,
your mistress married to a filthy Jew!"

"For the matter of that, he isn't so filthy neither."

"An abominable Jew! But, Souchey, she will never fall out with him. We
must contrive that he shall quarrel with her. If she had a thing about
her that he did not want her to have, couldn't you contrive that he
should know it?"

"What sort of thing? Do you mean another lover, like?"

"No, you gander. If there was anything of that sort I could manage it
myself. But if she had a thing locked up--away from him, couldn't you
manage to show it to him? He's very generous in rewarding, you know."

"I don't want to have anything to do with it," said Souchey, getting up
from his stool and preparing to take his departure. Though he had been
so keen after the sausage, he was above taking a bribe in such a matter
as this.

"Stop, Souchey, stop. I didn't think that I should ever have to ask
anything of you in vain."

Then she put her face very close to his, so that her lips touched his
ear, and she laid her hand heavily upon his arm, and she was very
confidential. Souchey listened to the whisper till his face grew longer
and longer. "'Tis for her soul," said Lotta--"for her poor soul's sake.
When you can save her by raising your hand, would you let her be damned
for ever?"

But she could exact no promise from Souchey except that he would keep
faith with her, and that he would consider deeply the proposal made to
him. Then there was a tender farewell between them, and Souchey
returned to the Kleinseite.

CHAPTER XIII

For two days after this Nina heard nothing from the Jews' quarter, and
in her terrible distress her heart almost became softened towards the
man w