renthal. "Are you intriguing with my son
too, behind my back?"

"Have you shown him the new mortgage that you have had drawn up for
him?" asked Veitel, hurriedly.

"He will not even look at it," returned the baron, gloomily.

"Give it to me," said Veitel; and he laid a new deed before Ehrenthal.

"You want me to take a bit of paper instead of my good money--mere
trash, that is not worth my burning."

"Will you not give over?" cried Veitel, in greatest distress. "No one is
up stairs with Bernhard, and he is calling out for you and the baron; he
will do himself a mischief. Do go up stairs; he has groaned out that I
am to bring you both to him immediately."

"Just God!" cried Ehrenthal, "what is to be done! I can not come to my
son; I am in terror about my money."

"He will cry himself to death," said Veitel; "you can speak about the
money long enough afterward. Do make haste."

The baron and Ehrenthal both left the office. Itzig followed. Ehrenthal
locked the door, laid the iron bar across it, and fastened the bolts. As
they went up stairs a piece of money rang upon the step. Ehrenthal
looked round. "It dropped out of my pocket," said Veitel.

The baron and Ehrenthal entered the sick-chamber, and Itzig pushed
himself in after them, creeping along the wall to the window behind
Bernhard, so that the latter should not see him. The baron sat down at
the head of the bed, the father at the foot, and the lamp threw a pale
light on the parties who came to wrangle about capital and security in
the presence of the dying. The nobleman began by a courteous speech,
referring to Bernhard's visit to his estate, hoping soon to welcome him
there again; but his eyes rested with terror on the sunken face, and an
inner voice told him the last hour was near. Bernhard sat up in his bed,
his head resting on his breast, and, raising his hand, he interrupted
the baron, saying, "I pray you, baron, to tell me what you require from
my father, and, while doing so, to recollect that I am no man of
business."

The baron proceeded to state his case. Ehrenthal was often about to
interrupt him, but each time Bernhard waved his hand, and then the old
man stopped, and contented himself with vehemently shaking his head and
mumbling to himself.

When the baron's statement was over, Bernhard beckoned to his father.
"Come nearer me, and listen quietly to my words."

The father stooped down with his ear close to his son's mouth. "What I
am about t