dy
was walking in the garden. Ehrenthal and his son went round the house,
and saw Lenore's tall figure slowly crossing the grass-plot. Ehrenthal
threw himself into a deferential attitude, and presented his son, who
bowed low. Lenore bestowed a cool sort of salutation upon the student,
and said, "If you want my father, he is up stairs in his room."

"I will go to him, then. Bernhard, you may, I am sure, remain with the
young lady."

Arrived in the baron's room, the trader placed some thousand dollars on
the table, saying, "Here is the first sum. And now, what does the baron
wish as to the security?"

"According to our agreement, I must give you a mortgage on the
property," was the reply.

"Do you know what, baron? It would never do for you to grant a fresh
mortgage for every thousand dollars that I might happen to pay in; it
would be very expensive, and would bring the property into disrepute.
Rather have a deed of mortgage drawn up for some considerable sum, say
twenty thousand dollars, and let it stand in the name of the baroness;
you will then have a security that you may sell any day. And every time
I pay you, give me a simple note of hand, pledging your word of honor
that I have a claim to that amount on the mortgage. That is a simple
plan, and remains a secret between you and me. And when you need no
further advances, we can settle the matter finally before an attorney.
You can make over the mortgage to me, and I return you the notes of
hand, and repay you whatever may be wanted to make up the twenty
thousand. I only ask your word of honor on a slip of paper no longer
than my finger, and when the deed is ready, I should wish to have it
executed in my house. You can not object to that. Any lawyer would tell
you that I am not dealing in a business-like way. A man's word is often
broken, but if there is one thing sure and steadfast in the world, I
believe it is your word of honor, baron."

Ehrenthal said this with an expression of sincerity, which was not
altogether assumed. This plan of his was the result of many a
consultation with Itzig. He knew that the baron would require far more
than twenty thousand dollars, and it was to his advantage that he should
procure them easily; besides which, he, the thorough rogue, had firm
trust in the nobleman's integrity.

Meanwhile, Lenore had asked Bernhard whether he would like to walk in
the park. He followed her in silence, looking timidly at the fair young
aristocrat