. His massive
face was gloomy as midnight, and the fiery blue eyes almost closed.
After awhile he growled: "But why--why?"

"Oh, I suppose because of the fifteen hundred marks for the families of
the dismissed workmen."

"Of course!" cried Schrotter, clapping his hand to his forehead.

"Dorfling's gold does not come from the Rhine for nothing," Wilhelm
smiled sadly. "Like the Nibleungen treasure, it is doomed to bring
disaster on all who possess it."

As Schrotter did not answer, Wilhelm resumed: "And as we are on the
subject, we may as well settle that matter at once. Of course you will
use the whole income now for your poor?"

"Not at all!" cried Schrotter. "Why should things not remain as they
are? Wherever you may take up your abode, the poor you have always with
you."

Wilhelm shook his head. "I may possibly go abroad, and you see, Herr
Doctor, I am prejudiced in favor of my own country. I think we shall
carry our Dorfling's intentions best by using his money for the relief
of German necessity."

Schrotter made no further objection. That Wilhelm would not, under any
circumstances, use a penny of the money for himself he knew perfectly
well, and in the end it was all the same whether the poor received it
from his hand or Wilhelm's. He merely wrote down some addresses which
Wilhelm gave him of people to whom he gave regular assistance, and whom
he recommended to Schrotter to that end.

When toward evening Wilhelm returned home, and, as was inevitable, told
Frau Muller the news, she nearly fainted, and had to sit down. She was
struck dumb for some time, and then only found strength to utter low
groans. Her lodger turned out of Berlin like a vagrant. A householder
too! Such a respectable, fine young gentleman, whom she had watched
over like the apple of her eye for seven years--dreadful--dreadful. But
it was all the fault of the low wretches who had forced their way in
last week. She had thought as much at the time. If she had only called
in the police at once! The police--oh yes, she had all due respect for
the police, she was the widow of a government official, and she loved
her good old king certainly--but that they should have banished the
Herr Doctor--that was not right--that could not possibly be right! Frau
Muller could not reconcile herself to the thought of parting. She would
go to her friend and patron the "Geheimer Oberpostrath," and he would
use his influence in the matter; and at last, seeing tha