to him.

Gotzkowsky smiled in pity. "That means that you would feel yourselves
under obligations to me, and, if ever you got me in your power, you
would take the opportunity to ruin me. But that is of no consequence
to me. This impost is a crying injustice, and therefore will I plead
for you, for it never shall be said that Gotzkowsky suffered an
injustice to be done when he could prevent it. Go home in peace, for,
if I can, I will help you."

"How arrogant this man is!" said Itzig, when they had left the house.
"One would suppose that he had all virtue and honor on lease, just as
we have the mint."

"And if he has," said Ephraim with a laugh, "if he has the monopoly
of virtue and honor, it is only to trade on. No doubt his speculation
will turn out just as profitably as ours with the mint. No doubt he
will coin it into light eight-groschen pieces, cheat the people with
them, and make more than his expenses, as we have done."

"But woe be unto him," growled Itzig, "if any light coin of his virtue
come into my hands! I will throw them back into his face till blood
flows, and I will never forgive him that this day we have had to stand
before him begging and pleading. If he ever comes to grief, I will
remember it. If the Jew has no money, he is nobody. Well, we will see
what Gotzkowsky is worth without money. Let me tell you we will all of
us live to see that day. He has too much stupid generosity, which some
day or other will run away with his purse, and then there will be a
grand blow-up, honor and virtue and all, sky high. Then there will be
no more talk about the great Gotzkowsky and his virtue and all that.
Oh! I do so rejoice over that time a-coming. But in the mean time I am
so very glad that Gotzkowsky can be of some service to us!"

[Footnote 1: Buesching's Travels, 1780.]

[Footnote 2: "Annals of the Jews in the Prussian States,"
Berlin.--UNGER.]

* * * * *

CHAPTER XII.

THE RUSSIAN GENERAL AND THE GERMAN MAN.

Scarcely had the Jewish deputation left Gotzkowsky's house, before
he betook himself, full of the important information received from
General Bachmann, to General Tottleben's residence, fully determined
to venture every thing to prevent the execution of the cruel order
which threatened the factories and other branches of industry. But
this was not the sole object which led him there. He went there as
a representative of the whole town. Every one who ne