d had turned his face to the wall, but he now suddenly flung
himself round, and said impetuously, "Father, I have something to speak
to you about. Lock the door, that no one may disturb us."

Ehrenthal, in amazement, ran to both doors, locked and bolted them
obediently, and then hurried back to his son's bedside.

"What is it that vexes you, my Bernhard?" inquired he, stretching out
his hand to feel his son's brow.

Bernhard drew back his head, and his father's hand sank on the
bedclothes.

"Sit down there," said the invalid, darkly, "and answer my questions as
sincerely as if you were speaking to yourself."

The old man sat down. "Ask, my son, and I will answer you."

"You have told me that you have lent much money to Baron Rothsattel;
that you will lend him no more, and that the nobleman will not be able
to retain his estate."

"It is as I have said," replied his father, as cautiously as if
undergoing a legal examination.

"And what is to become of the baron and of his family?"

Ehrenthal shrugged his shoulders. "He will forfeit his property; and
when the day comes that the estate has to be sold, I shall, on account
of my money invested therein, bid for it, and I hope I shall be the
purchaser. I have a large mortgage on it, which is safe, and a small
mortgage besides, which is not worth much."

"Father," cried Bernhard, with a piercing voice, which made Ehrenthal
start, "you wish to turn this man's misfortunes to your own profit; you
wish to seat yourself in his place. Yes, you drove to the baron's
estate, and took me with you, and perhaps you were then planning how to
turn his embarrassment to advantage. It is horrible! horrible!" He threw
himself back on the pillows and wrung his hands.

Ehrenthal moved restlessly on his seat: "Speak not of matters that you
do not understand. Business is for the day; when I come to you in the
evenings, then you are not to trouble yourself about my occupations. I
will not have you lift up your hands, and cry 'Horrible!'"

"Father!" exclaimed Bernhard, "if you would not see me die with shame
and sorrow, you will give up your plan."

"Give up!" cried Ehrenthal, indignantly. "How can I give up my gold? How
can I give up the estate about which I have taken thought night and day?
How can I give up the greatest stroke of business I have yet carried on?
You are a disobedient child, and do grieve me for nothing. What fault of
mine was it that I gave the baron my money? He woul