distant bow, called
after him to come very soon again to see his son Bernhard.

Ehrenthal had spent a miserable day. He had never, in the whole course
of his life, sighed or shaken his head so much before. It was in vain
that his wife, Sidonia, asked her daughter, "What ails the man, that he
sighs so deeply?" It was in vain that Itzig sought to cheer his master's
spirits by drawing glowing pictures of the future. All the
dissatisfaction in Ehrenthal's breast exploded against his book-keeper.
"It was you who advised me to take these steps against the baron," he
screamed at him on the morning after his scene with Bernhard. "Do you
know what you are? You are a good for nothing fellow." Itzig shrugged
his shoulders, and returned an ironical reply, which made Ehrenthal glad
to bury his head in the newspaper. Longer than two days he could not
endure the sight of the sorrow of his son, who got visibly worse, and
only answered his father in monosyllables. "I must make a sacrifice,"
said Ehrenthal to himself. "I must give back sleep to his eyes, and put
an end to his groaning. I will remember my son; and I will get the baron
the Rosmin property, or I will save the money that he has invested in
it, without any profit for myself. I shall lose in that way, for I might
have arranged with Loewenberg so as to gain more than a thousand dollars.
I think this will please my Bernhard." And putting his hat firmly on his
head, as if to crush down all rebellious thoughts, he entered the
dwelling of his debtor.

The baron received his unexpected visitor with breathless terror. "The
warner is scarcely gone when the enemy arrives," thought he. "He is come
to require the legal surrender of the mortgage."

But what was his relief when Ehrenthal of his own accord politely
requested that he might go to Rosmin on the baron's behalf, and take the
necessary steps. "I will employ as my coadjutor a safe man--the
Commissary Walter--so that you may see that all is done legally. You
will give me authority to bid for the property, and to raise it thus to
such a sum as shall insure your mortgage being covered by the
purchase-money that some other will pay."

"I know that this will be necessary," said the baron; "but, for God's
sake, Ehrenthal, what will be done if the property remains upon our
hands!"

Ehrenthal shrugged his shoulders. "You know that I did not persuade you
into the mortgage; indeed, I may say, if I remember aright, that I even
dissuade