nough
left to get me a new bed and neat furniture and--"

Here her voice was lost in unintelligible mumbling, and, much excited,
she appeared to count eagerly. With her bony forefinger she numbered
over the fingers of her left hand, as if each were a fortune that she
must verify and examine.

The mother and the banker regarded each other with mocking looks; the
general looked at the money, grumbling: "If I had had four hundred
thalers the last time I played, I could have won back my money in
playing again."

"Old woman," said Ebenstreit, "have you not finished with your
reckoning?"

"Yes," she said, with an exultant laugh, "I have done! Four hundred
thalers are not sufficient. I must have five, and if you will give them
to me in cash in an hour, then I will do every thing that you wish, and
persuade Marie to the marriage. I will watch her day and night, and tell
you every thing that she says and does. But I must have five hundred in
cash!"

Ebenstreit turned his dull-blue eyes to Frau von Werrig with a
triumphant smile. "Did you not tell me the old woman could not be
bought? I knew that I was right. You did not offer her money enough; she
will sell herself dear as possible."

"Yes, as dear as she can," laughed Trude--"five hundred is my price."

"You shall have it in cash in an hour," said Ebenstreit, in a friendly
manner.

"So much money," whined the general; "it would have saved me if I had
had it that last time."

"My son-in-law, I must confess you are exceedingly generous," remarked
the mother.

"No sum would be too great to assure me my bride. Go now, Trude, you
shall have the money in time.--Will you allow me, father, to send your
servant to my office for it?"

"Send Leberecht here, Trude!"

The old woman hurried out of the room, but the door once closed, her
manner changed. One might have supposed a sudden cramp had seized her,
from her distorted face, and twitching and panting, and beating the air
with her clinched fists, and her quivering lips uttering broken words.

Approaching footsteps warned her to assume her general manner and
expression, and cease her manipulations. "The ladies and gentlemen wish
you in the parlor," mumbled Trude to the servant descending the stairs.
"But where have you been, and what have you to do up there?"

"I was looking for you, lovely one--nothing more!"

"Well, now you have found me, tell me what you want? I know you were
sneaking about, listening, because you