self in this sand-hole, where I must kindle a nightly fire to scare
the Polish wolf. As for you, Anton, raise your head and look before you,
for if I have found a home, you are going to where the best part of your
heart is; and so, my boy, let's go over your instructions once more.
Your first commission is to find certain stolen papers. Think, too, of
the second. Do what you can to secure to the family the little they have
saved in this quarter, and see that their old estate, when sold by
auction, is bid up to a price that will cover all mortgages. You must
go, I see, and I do not ask you to remain at present, but you know that,
under all circumstances, my home is yours. And now, one thing more. I
should be sorry to lose the bailiff; employ your eloquence to induce
your trusty Sancho to remain here, at least over the winter."

"No one knows as yet that I am leaving," replied Anton; "he must be the
first to hear it. I am going to him."

The dirty dwelling which Mr. Bratzky once occupied had changed, under
Karl's management, to a comfortable abode, which had only one drawback,
that of being too full of useful things, and smelling strongly of glue.
Often and often Anton had sat in it to rest and refresh himself by
Karl's cheery ways, and as he glanced at each familiar object, his heart
sank at the prospect of leaving his faithful, unexacting ally. Leaning
against the joiner's table in the window, he said, "Put your accounts
by, Karl, and let us have a serious word or two."

"Now for it," cried Karl; "something has been brewing for a long while,
and I see by your face that the crisis is come."

"I am going away, my friend."

Karl let his pen fall, and silently stared at the grave face opposite
him.

"Fink undertakes the management of the property, which he has just
bought."

"Hurrah!" cried Karl; "if Herr von Fink be the man, why, all's right! I
give you joy, with all my heart," said he, shaking Anton's hand, "that
things have turned out thus. In the spring I had other foolish notions.
But it's all regular and right now, and our farming is safe too."

"I hope so," said Anton, smiling.

"But you?" continued Karl, his face growing suddenly grave.

"I go back to our capital, where I have some business to do for the
baron, and then I shall look out for a stool in an office."

"And here we have worked together for a year," said Karl, sadly; "you
have had all the pains, and another will have the profits."

"I go bac