nd Veitel could make little of it. At last, however, the voices grew
louder.

"How can you ask such a large sum!" cried Ehrenthal, angrily; "I have
been mistaken in thinking you a trustworthy man."

"I am trustworthy," replied Pinkus; "but I must have four hundred
dollars, or this affair will fall through."

"How dare you say it will fall through? What do you know about it?"

"I know this much, that I can get four hundred dollars from the baron by
telling him what I know," screamed Pinkus.

"You are a rascal! You are a traitor! Do you know who it is that you use
thus? I can ruin your credit, and disgrace you in the eyes of all men of
business."

"And I can show the baron what sort of a man you are," cried Pinkus,
with equal vehemence.

At this the door opened, and Veitel plunged into the shadow of the
staircase.

"I will give you till to-morrow to consider," were Pinkus's parting
words.

Veitel coolly stepped into the office, and his patron hardly noticed
him. He was pacing up and down the little room, like a wild beast in its
cage, and exclaiming, "Just heavens! that this Pinkus should turn out
such a traitor! He will blab the whole matter; he will ruin me!"

"Why should he ruin you?" asked Veitel, throwing his hat on the desk.

"What are you doing here? What have you overheard?"

"Every thing," was the cool reply. "You have both screamed so as to be
heard all over the hall. Why do you keep the affair a secret from me? I
could have compelled Loebel to give you better terms."

Ehrenthal stared in utter amazement at the audacious youth, and could
only bring out, "What does this mean?"

"I know Pinkus well," continued Veitel, determined henceforth to take a
part in the game. "If you give him a hundred dollars, he will readily
sell you a good mortgage for the baron."

"How should you know any thing about the mortgage?"

"I know enough to help in the matter," replied Itzig; "and I will help
you, if you trust me."

Ehrenthal continued to stare and stare, till at last it dawned upon him
that his assistant had more coolness and decision than himself.
Accordingly, he said, "You are a good creature, Veitel; go and bring in
Pinkus; he shall have the hundred dollars."

"I have seen the directions of the councilor's letters: there was one to
Commissary Walter."

"I thought so," cried Ehrenthal, with delight. "All right, Itzig; now
for Loebel."

"I have to pay five dollars to the councilor's clerk," continu