pleted his toilet and began negotiations with the Hebrew merchant.

"Will you, please, take the trouble to examine the furniture and all
the other equipments in these apartments?" said he. "I mean to sell
all of it, just as it stands, since I have been transferred to another
garrison. But as to this point--I mean my transference--I must beg to
preserve silence for the moment, as it is not yet generally known. How
much could you offer me?"

The Jew pensively let his keen eyes wander all about the dwelling,
mentally going through a rapid process of addition, subtraction, and
silence. Then he proceeded to a more minute examination. He handled
every single piece, using his knuckles to ascertain its exact
condition; he subjected hangings, rugs, and carpets, as well as the
expensive carving of the book-cases and stands, to a similar process.
Then he drew forth a small note-book, greasy and worn, and squinted at
each single object as he noted down its price. Finally he turned to
Borgert and said, with an obsequious smile:

"Fifteen hundred marks, Herr First Lieutenant, counting it out in gold
on this table."

"What! fifteen hundred marks?" and Borgert gave a snort of
disapproval. "Why, man, you must be dreaming. I have paid almost ten
thousand marks for the things."

"Sorry, Herr First Lieutenant," the Jew said, shrugging his shoulders
in deprecation of such high figures. "Old things are not new things,
and you won't get any more from anybody."

"That is not enough; that would be giving the things away."

"Well, I will pay you two thousand marks, then, but not a penny more."

Borgert sat down at his desk. He began to see that there was no time
to lose, and that the man had him at a great disadvantage. Meanwhile
the dealer had his eyes fastened on the officer's face, and wore the
same expectant and obsequious smile.

"All right, give me the money; you can have the whole stuff," said
Borgert, briefly.

With a smile that now broke over his face until it illuminated every
nook and corner of the parchment-like wrinkles, the Jew drew a formal
document, a bill of sale, from his breast pocket, stepped up to the
desk, and wrote a few words on it. Then he requested Borgert to sign
it.

After the dealer had left and Borgert had securely stowed away the
purchase price, he felt that the last hindrance to his flight had now
been removed, for a certain amount of cash was an indispensable
requisite. Then he stepped into his bed-