ors in Nuremberg, Augsburg, Ulm, and Regensburg, Venice, Milan,
Bruges, and other German and foreign cities, formed the most important
portion of his speech. During its progress he frequently seized a bit of
chalk and blackboard, writing rapidly on the green table whole rows of
figures, and the young burgomasters especially exchanged admiring smiles
as the experienced old merchant added and subtracted in an instant sums
for which they themselves would have needed twice as much time.

The figures and names buzzed in the ears of the listener at the window
like the humming of a swarm of gnats. To understand and remember them was
impossible, and she gazed in astonishment at the old man who so clearly
comprehended the confused tangle and drew from it so readily just what he
needed for his purpose.

When he closed, and with a loud "Therefore" began to communicate the
result, she summoned all the mental power she possessed in order to
understand it. She succeeded, but her knees fairly trembled when she
heard the sum which the house was obliged to repay to others.

Yet, when Herr Berthold lastly gave the estimate of the Eysvogel property
in merchandise, buildings, and estates, she was again surprised. She had
not supposed that Wolff's proud family was so wealthy; but the close of
this report brought fresh disappointment, for including the sum which
Herr Casper had borrowed from the Jew Pfefferkorn, the debts of the firm
exceeded its possessions far more than Els had expected from the amount
of its riches.

She was wholly ignorant of the condition of her own father's property;
but she thought she knew that it was far from being enough to suffice
here. And this appeared to be the case, for when Berthold Vorchtel
resumed his speech he alluded to Ernst Ortlieb. In words full of sympathy
he lamented the unprecedented insult which had led him to commit the deed
of violence that prevented his sharing in this consultation. But before
his removal he had given him an important commission. Upon certain
conditions--but only upon them--he would place a considerable portion of
his fortune at his disposal for the settlement of this affair. Still,
large as was the promised sum, it would by no means be sufficient to save
the Eysvogel business from ruin. Yet he, Berthold Vorchtel, was of the
opinion that its fall must be prevented at any cost. The sincerity of
this conviction he intended to prove by the best means at a merchant's
command-the