y father's death colleagues of the chancery as well
as utter strangers had approached me with requests for support and aid,
and that I had promised to help them as soon as I should be in
possession of the money? My promises I was obliged to keep, but I
resolved to be more careful in future. I applied for my inheritance. It
was less than had been expected, but still a considerable sum, nearly
eleven thousand gulden. The whole day my room was besieged by people
demanding financial assistance. I had almost become hardened, however,
and granted a request only when the distress was really great. Barbara's
father also came. He scolded me for not having been around for three
days, whereupon I truthfully replied that I feared I was unwelcome to
his daughter. But he told me with a malicious laugh that alarmed me, not
to worry on that score; that he had brought her to her senses. Thus
reminded of Barbara's warning, I concealed the amount of the inheritance
when the subject came up in the course of the conversation and also
skilfully evaded his business proposals.

"As a matter of fact, I was already turning other prospects over in my
mind. In the chancery, where I had been tolerated only on account of my
father, my place had already been filled by another, which troubled me
little, since no salary was attached to the position. But my father's
secretary, whom recent events had deprived of his livelihood, informed
me of a plan for the establishment of a bureau of information, copying,
and translation. For this undertaking I was to advance the initial cost
of equipment, he being prepared to undertake the management. At my
request the field of copying was extended so as to include music, and
now I was perfectly happy. I advanced the necessary sum, but, having
grown cautious, demanded a written receipt. The rather large bond for
the establishment, which I likewise furnished, caused me no worry, since
it had to be deposited with the court, where it was as safe as though it
were locked up in my strong-box.

"The affair was settled, and I felt relieved, exalted; for the first
time in my life I was independent--I was a man at last. I scarcely gave
my father another thought. I moved into a better apartment, procured
better clothes, and when it had become dark, I went through familiar
streets to the grocery store, with a swinging step and humming my song,
although not quite correctly. I never have been able to strike the B
flat in the seco