efused me, and I had to have it, and so I took it on my own account."

"That was very stupid of you. Where will you take the money from now?"

"I really don't know. Cannot you help me?"

"I will go to those people and ask them for time."

"There would be no use in doing that, George; I must have the cash. I
need at least a thousand marks, for I have to pay for other things as
well--the dressmaker, the hair-dresser, the shoemaker, etc. Get me the
money, George, and show me that you really love me as much as you
always say you do."

"I?" Borgert set up an unpleasant laugh. "Good heavens, I don't know
myself what is to become of me."

"How so? Are you in debt too?"

"If you would take the trouble to devote some attention to that big
sheet of paper over there on my desk, you might be able to tell. That
sort of thing I get every day."

Frau Leimann stepped up to the desk, unfolded the big sheet, and
stared with wide-open eyes at the formidable columns.

"Why, I had no idea of this, George! What is to become of all this?
You were my only reliance, and now I am entirely undone."

She sank, sobbing, down on the divan and covered her face with both
hands.

"Don't lose courage at once, you little goose; you won't die for the
lack of these few hundred marks!" Borgert consoled her,
affectionately passing his hand over her blonde hair. "I will see what
can be done, and in a week's time you'll have your thousand marks."

For an answer she put her arms passionately around Borgert's neck, and
thanked him.

"I knew that you would not leave me in the lurch, thou best one!"

* * * * *

When Leimann returned home about eight o'clock, he found all the rooms
dark and silent.

To his question about his wife the maid answered:

"The gracious lady has gone out."

"Where to?"

"I do not know, Herr First Lieutenant!"

He lit a lamp and then went to the letter-box to ascertain whether
anything had arrived by the evening mail. He found two letters with
bills inside, amounting to over six hundred marks.

He did a little grumbling to himself, and then locked up the two
"rags" in his desk.

In doing so he noticed a large yellow envelope. Supposing it to be an
official letter, he seized it, intending to open it. But he found
that it had been already opened, and his curiosity grew as he drew
from it three large sheets.

Without at first catching its purport, he gazed at the clerical
handwrit