never guess
it--the chief burgomaster, President von Kircheisen! He stood himself
at the gate, watched for the wagon, and searched until he found the
money."

"Kircheisen! The same, father, whom you saved from death when the
Russians were here?"

"The same, my son; you shake your head incredulously. Read for
yourself." He took from his writing-table a large paper provided with
the official seal, and handed it to Bertram. "Read for yourself, my
son. It is an order from the minister Von Finkenstein."

It was written thus: "The half of the sum is awarded by the king to
President von Kircheisen, as detective and informer."

"A worthy title, 'detective and informer,'" continued Gotzkowsky. "By
Heaven, I do not envy him it! But now you shall know all. It does me
good to confide to you my sorrows--it lightens my poor heart. And now
I have another fear. You have heard of my speculation in the Russian
magazines?"

"Of the magazines which you, with De Neufville and the bankers Moses
and Samuel, bought?" asked Bertram.

"Yes, that is it. But Russia would not enter into the bargain unless I
made myself responsible for the whole sum."

"And you did so?" asked Bertram, trembling.

"I did. The purchase-money has been due for four months. My
fellow-contractors have not paid. If Russia insists upon the payment
of this debt, I am ruined."

"And why do not Samuel and Moses pay their part?"

Gotzkowsky did not answer immediately, but when he did, his features
expressed scorn and contempt: "Moses and Samuel are no longer obliged
to pay, because yesterday they declared themselves insolvent."

Bertram suppressed with effort a cry of anger, and covered his face
with his hands. "He is lost," he muttered to himself, "lost beyond
redemption, for he founds his hopes on De Neufville, and he knows
nothing of his unfortunate fate."

* * * * *

CHAPTER VII.

CONFESSIONS.

Bertram raised his head again, Gotzkowsky was standing near him,
looking brightly and lovingly into his sorrowful, twitching face. It
was now Gotzkowsky who had to console Bertram, and, smiling quietly
and gently, he told him of the hopes which still remained to him.

"De Neufville may return," he said. "He has only gone to the opening
of the bank at Amsterdam, and if he succeeds in collecting the
necessary sum there, and returns with it as rapidly as possible to
Berlin, I am saved."

"But if he does not come?" asked Ber