not before know that even your
heart, too, was buried in money bags."

"Oh no! you have caused me to seek afresh for parents."

"You are old enough to live as an orphan; but I know you are one of
those, who, even when they are grandfathers themselves, go whining
about, and saying, 'Mother! mother! your precious child is injured!'"

Thus spoke the Landlord, and no one could have believed that he could
be so spiteful. Lenz chanced to be the only one of his creditors who
came within his reach, so he vented the whole burden of his wrath on
his head.

Lenz was alternately pale and flushed, his lips trembled, and he
said:--

"You are the grandfather of my children, and you know what you have
robbed them of. I would not have your conscience for the world. But the
wood shall not be cut down. I will try the question at law."

"Very well; do just as you please about it," said the Landlord, pouring
out his coffee.

Lenz could no longer bear to stay in the room.

On the stone bench before the Lion sat a careworn figure; it was
Proebler. He told every one who passed by, that he was waiting here for
the commissioners to arrive, for he had pawned his best work to the
Landlord upstairs, and it was one in which he had combined all his
discoveries; it must on no account be included in the inventory of
sale, that other people might see it and imitate it, and thus he would
have no profit after all his trouble. The commission of bankruptcy must
first secure him a patent from government, which would make him both
rich and famous. Lenz took a great deal of trouble to soothe the old
man, but he clung fast to his idea, and would not be persuaded to move
from the spot.

Lenz went on his way, for he had enough to do for himself. He hurried
to his uncle Petrowitsch, who said with an air of great triumph:--

"There now! did I not say so? in this very room on the day when you
wished me to go with you to propose for Annele, did I not distinctly
tell you that the Landlord of the Lion had not paid for the velvet cap
on his head, or the boots on his feet? and even his portly person he
acquired from devouring the substance of others."

"Yes, yes, uncle, you were right. You are a sensible man, but help me
now."

"You don't require to be helped."

Lenz related the circumstance about the wood.

"Perhaps we may manage to do some good there," said Petrowitsch.

"Heaven be praised! If I could only get the wood!"

"Not the most remote chan