Part 57 (1/2)

”Oh, Marie!” he cried, retreating in terror, ”with what fearful detestation you regard me!”

”Do you wonder at it? Have I ever concealed this hate from you, or ever given you hope to believe that a reconciliation would be possible between us?”

”No, truly you have not, but now you will forgive me, for you know how I love you, and have provided for your future. You will remain rich, and I shall be poor.”

Marie regarded him with unspeakable contempt. ”You are more despicable than I thought you were. You do not deserve forbearance or pity, for you are a dishonorable bankrupt, who cares not how much others may suffer, provided his future is secured. I will not, however, suffer the name which I have borne against my will, to be defamed and become a mark for scorn. I will compel you to remain an honest man, and be just to your creditors. I propose to pay the bills of exchange, which will be presented to you to-day, provided you will consent to my conditions.”

”Oh, Marie, you are an angel!” he cried, rus.h.i.+ng toward her and kneeling at her feet, ”I will do all that you wish, and consent to every thing you propose.”

”Will you swear it?” she coldly replied.

”I swear that I accept your conditions.”

”Bring the writing-materials from the window-niche, and seat yourself by this table.”

Ebenstreit brought them, and seated himself by the Florentine mosaic table, near which Marie was standing.

She drew from her pocket a paper, which she unfolded and placed before him to sign. ”Sign this with your full name, and add, 'With my own free will and consent,'” she commandingly ordered him.

”But you will first make known to me the contents?”

”You have sworn to sign it,” she said, ”and unless you accept my conditions, you are welcome to be incarcerated for life in the debtor's prison. You have only to choose. If you decide in the negative, I will exert myself that your creditors do not free you. I should trust in the justice of G.o.d having sent you there, and that man in miserable pity should not act against His will in freeing you. Now decide; will you sign the paper, or go to prison as a dishonorable bankrupt?”

He hastily seized the pen and wrote his name, handing the paper to Marie, sighing.

”You have forgotten to add the clause, 'With my own free will and consent,'” she replied, hastily glancing at it, letting the paper drop like a wilted leaf, and her eyes flas.h.i.+ng with scorn.

Ebenstreit saw it, and as he again handed her the paper, he exclaimed, ”I read in your eyes the intense hate you bear me.”

”Yes,” she replied, composedly, ”not only hate, but scorn. Hus.h.!.+ no response. You knew it long before I was forced to stand at the altar with you. I warned you not to unite yourself to me, and you had the impious audacity to defy me with your riches. The seed of hate which you then sowed, you may to-day reap the fruits of. You shall recognize now that money is miserable trash, and that when deprived of it you will never win sympathy from your so-called friends, but they will turn from you with contempt, when you crave their pity or aid.”

”I think that you exaggerate, dearest,” said Ebenstreit, fawningly. ”You have many devoted friends among the ladies, and I can well say that I have found, among the distinguished gentlemen who visit our house, many n.o.ble, excellent ones who have met me with a warmth of friends.h.i.+p--”

”Because they would borrow money of the rich man,” interrupted Marie.

”Of course my coffers have always been accessible to my dear friends, and I prized the honor of proving my friends.h.i.+p by my deeds.”

”You will realize to-day how they prove their grat.i.tude to you for it.

Go, receive the good friends whom you have invited. It is time that they were here, and I perceive the carriages are approaching.”

Marie motioned to the door, with a dictatorial wave of her hand, and Ebenstreit betook himself to the reception-room. Just as he crossed the threshold, the usher announced ”Herr Ged.i.c.ke! Ebenstreit greeted him hastily in pa.s.sing, and the old man went on to meet the baroness, who was hastening toward him.

”You have most graciously invited me to your house to-day, and you will excuse me that my earnest wish to see you has brought me earlier than any other guest.”

”I begged you to come a quarter of an hour sooner, for I would gladly speak with you alone a few moments.”

”I thought so, and hastened up here.”

”Did not my old Trude go to see you some days since?” asked Marie, timidly.