thing to do with the robbery in his office. Indeed, he really
believed this. Then the name of Itzig was never broached, and the
suspicion against Ehrenthal, which the baron's lawyer shared, prevented
Anton seeking any explanation from him.

Meanwhile, an estrangement had sprung up between our hero and his
principal, which the whole counting-house remarked with surprise. The
merchant scowled at Anton's vacant seat when the latter chanced to be
absent during office-hours, or looked coldly at his clerk's face, made
pale as it was with excitement of mind and night-work. He took no notice
of his new occupation, and never seemed to remark him. Even to his
sister he maintained a stiff-necked silence; nor could all her attempts
lead him to speak of Anton, who, on his side, felt his heart revolt
against this coldness. After his return, to be treated like a child of
the house, praised, promoted, petted, and now to be treated like a mere
hireling, who is not worth the bread thrown to him; to be a toy of an
incomprehensible caprice--this, at least, he had not deserved; so he
became reserved toward the whole family, and sat silent at his desk; but
he felt the contrast between the now and the then so keenly, that often,
when alone, he would spring up and stamp on the ground in the bitter
indignation of his heart.

One comfort remained. Sabine was not estranged. True, he saw little of
her, and at dinner she seemed to avoid speaking to him, but he knew that
she was on his side.

A few days after his first conversation with the merchant, she came down
stairs as he stood in the hall, and had to pass him by so closely that
her dress touched him. He had retreated, and made a formal bow, but she
looked at him imploringly, and whispered, "You must not be estranged
from me." It was an affair of a moment, but the faces of both were
radiant with a happy understanding.

The time had now arrived when Mr. Jordan was to quit the firm. The
principal again called Anton into his little office, and without any
severity, but also without a trace of his former cordiality, began: "I
have already mentioned to you my intention of appointing you Jordan's
successor; but, during the last few weeks, your time has been more taken
up with other business than would be compatible with such a post, I
therefore ask you whether you are now at liberty to undertake Jordan's
duties?"

"I am not," replied Anton.

"Can you name any--not very distant--time when you w