Part 56 (1/2)
Did Marie know this, or did she let herself be deceived by these friendly protestations? Occasionally, when her friends embraced and kissed her, a languid smile flitted over her haughty face; and once as she wandered through the suite of rooms, awaiting her guests, she caught the reflection of a beautiful woman in the costly Venetian mirrors, sparkling with diamonds and wearing a silver-embroidered dress with a train. She gazed at this woman with an expression of ineffable scorn, and whispered to her: ”Suffer yet awhile, you shall soon be released.
This miserable trash will disappear. Only be firm--I hear already the cracking of the house which will soon fall a wreck at your feet!”
Others heard it also. As preparations were being made for a grand dinner, with which the Baron and Baroness von Ebenstreit would close the season, the former head bookkeeper of the baron appeared at the palace, demanding, with anxious mien, to see the princ.i.p.al.
Just at the moment the baron and his wife were in the large reception-room, which the decorator was splendidly arranging, under the direction of the baroness, with flowers, festoons, columns, and statues.
Ebenstreit was watching admiringly the tasteful and costly display as the footman announced the former book-keeper and present banker, Splittgerber.
”He must come at another time,” cried Ebenstreit, impatiently, ”I am busy now; I--”
”Excuse me, baron,” replied an earnest, gentle voice behind him, ”that I have followed the lackey and entered unbidden. I come on urgent business, and I must indeed speak with you instantly!”
”Be brief then, at least,” cried Ebenstreit, peevishly. ”You see that my wife is here, and we are very busy arranging for a grand dinner to-day.”
Herr Splittgerber, instead of replying, cast a peculiarly sad, searching glance through the beautifully-adorned room, and at the two lackeys, who stood on each side of the wide folding-doors.
”Permit that these servants withdraw, and order them to close the doors,” said the book-keeper, almost commandingly. Ebenstreit, overruled by the solemn earnestness, obeyed against his will.
”Would you like me to leave also, sir?” said Marie, with a calm, haughty manner. ”You have only to ask it and the baron will, undoubtedly, accord your request.”
”On the contrary, I beg you to remain,” quietly replied Splittgerber, ”for what I have to say concerns you and your husband equally.”
”Now, then, I beg you to say it quickly,” cried Ebenstreit, impatiently; ”I repeat, that we are very busy with preparing for to-day's festival.”
”You will not give any fete to-day,” said Splittgerber, solemnly.
Ebenstreit, cringing and frightened, gazed at the old man who looked sadly at him.
The baroness laughed aloud, sneeringly. ”My dear sir, your tone and manner remind me of the wicked spirit at the horrible moment in the story when he comes to demand the bartered soul, and the enchanted castle falls a wreck!”
”Your comparison is an apt one, baroness,” sighed the old man.--”I came to you, baron, because I loved your father. I have served your house thirty years, and ama.s.sed the little I had to commence business with in your service. Moreover, when you so suddenly dismissed me, you not only gave me my salary as a pension, but you funded the annuity with a considerable sum, which makes me, through your house, independent in means.”
”You may thank my wife for that. She demanded, when I dismissed you, that I should compensate you with the liberality of a true n.o.bleman.”
”Oh, would that you had not done it, baroness!” cried Splittgerber--”would that you had permitted the old faithful pioneer in the business to remain by your husband! He might have warded off this misfortune and saved you by his experience and advice.”
”For this very reason I demanded your removal. You permitted yourself to proffer advice which I felt did not become you,” replied Marie, with a strange smile of triumph.
”And, I repeat, would that you had not done it!” sighed the old man.
”I came to warn you, to conjure you, to save yourselves--to flee while there is yet time.”
”Oh, mercy! what has happened?” cried Ebenstreit, terrified.
”The banking-house of Ebenstreit, founded under the name of Ludwig, a.s.sociated with Ehlert of Amsterdam, four months since, to buy and load s.h.i.+ps for the Calcutta market. Herr Ebenstreit gathered together the last wrecks of his fortune remaining from his ruinous speculations, to win enormously in this investment. Besides, he indorsed the notes of the Amsterdam house for the sum of eighty thousand dollars, which has been drawn, so that their notes are protested there. Herr Ebenstreit will have to pay this sum!”
”What else?” asked Ebenstreit, almost breathless.
”The house of Ehlert, in Amsterdam, has failed; the princ.i.p.al has fled with the coffers; the notes for eighty thousand dollars were protested, and you, baron, must pay this sum to-day, or declare yourself a bankrupt, and go to prison for debt.”
Instantaneously a suppressed cry and a laugh were heard. Ebenstreit sank upon a seat, concealing his pallid face with his hands, while Marie stood at his side, her face beaming with joy.