if you can't meet this payment of three thousand marks of last
month, there will be the devil to pay for me, since I went bail for
you."

"I do not think there is any need of your being so explicit; as a
matter of course, I shall meet my obligations."

"I don't doubt it in the least; but for me it is indeed impossible to
become security for you once more. Not only that, but I have to ask
you to let me have some money, for I really do need some very badly."

"With the greatest of pleasure," said Borgert with a sinister smile;
"but why don't you raise money on your 'commiss-fortune'?[19] That, it
strikes me, would be the surest way of obtaining it."

[19] "Commiss-fortune"--the term applied to the dowry of an
officer's wife, which must reach a certain figure.--TR.

"My 'commiss-fortune'? Very well put; but I'd have to have one in
order to raise money on it."

"What have you been marrying on, then?" asked Borgert in amazement.

"I only had it four weeks in my hands, when it was returned to the
party who had lent it for a consideration until I had obtained the
official consent."

Borgert looked in consternation at his friend and then began to
measure the room in nervous excitement.

"In that case," he began, after making several turns of the room, "I
will make another proposition: I become surety for you, and you for
me."

"Good," cried Leimann, joyfully; "but it is a somewhat ticklish
business, for some time or other there is bound to come a crash, and
then if neither of us has a penny there will be the deuce and all."

"That catastrophe will not happen, my most beloved friend, because if
I can pull through once more there will be nothing to fear for me. I
shall marry."

"By the eternal gods, but you have amazing courage! Only let me tell
you, be careful in the choice of your father-in-law, otherwise it is a
worse than useless arrangement. I myself can speak from experience."

"That is a matter of course; I shan't marry on empty promises. For
less than half a million they cannot do business with me."

"Well, I wish you luck; but, come to think of it, how is it about
Koenig? Couldn't he be induced to come out with a few thousand marks?"

"I've thought of him, but it seems to me doubtful whether he can be
got at. For, first of all, we would have to pay him the old score."

"All right; but we might make at least an attempt. He can't say more
than 'no,' and I shall sit down at once and write a few li