Part 18 (1/2)

”Yes,” said Pomuchelskopp, seeing the drift of the notary's remarks, ”if you can get me the Pumpelhagen bonds from your father, I will give you up the surplus of the wool money.”

”Why not?” said David, ”but how about the knots?”

”The knots!” repeated Pomuchelskopp. ”We can compromise----”

”Hold on!” cried the notary, ”you can settle about the knots, when you bring the bond.”

”Why not?” said David again.

When they had finished their wine, and were getting into their wagon, the notary said softly and very jokingly to Pomuchelskopp, ”To-morrow David can begin to worry the Herr Lieutenant, and next week I will tread on his toes.”

And Pomuchelskopp pressed his hand as gratefully as if the notary had saved his Philipping from drowning, and, after they were gone, he sat down with his Hanning, and cut and clipped contentedly at the web of the future, and the notary sat in the wagon highly pleased, well satisfied with himself that he was wiser than the others, and David sat at his side, and said to himself, ”We shall see! You have the secrets, and I have the knots.”

But it was not all right about the knots yet; for when David told the business to his father, and wanted the bond, the old man looked at him sideways, over his shoulder, and said, ”So! If you have been with that notary, that cut-throat, and that Pomuchelskopp,--he is another cut-throat,--and bought wool, you may pay for it with your own bonds and not with mine. Do business with rats if you like, but I shall have nothing to do with them.”

That was not so favorable for David and the knots.

CHAPTER X.

But it was worse for the poor Herr Lieutenant next morning, when David entered the room. David was never handsome,--n.o.body could say that, not even his own mother, but he had not improved since the lieutenant first made his acquaintance. Then, when he got the money for him at the notary's, there was something quite friendly in his appearance; but now, when he wanted the money again, he looked so tough and sour, that the lieutenant, without thinking what he was doing, drew on his gloves before speaking to him.

Speak with him he must, however, though David's face seemed to him as if Moses and all the prophets were looking out from behind it; and when David said, ”Take off your gloves, Herr Lieutenant, and write,” he took off his gloves, and wrote across the note, and David's face became as friendly as at their first interview.

”Thank G.o.d!” said the Herr Lieutenant, ”that is done with.”

But a few days later a wagon drove into the yard, and in the wagon sat the notary Slusuhr, and Habermann shook his head, and said, ”G.o.d preserve me, with _him_ too?”

And as the notary entered the room, the Herr Lieutenant said also, ”G.o.d preserve me, him too?”

But he got on with him a little better than with David; the notary looked like a man of some cultivation, he always dressed well, and appeared outwardly like a gentleman, he understood also how to preserve such an appearance in his language,--that is to say, as long as he liked. This was the case at present; the lieutenant invited him to a seat on the sofa, and ordered coffee, and there followed what seemed a very friendly chat about the weather and the neighborhood and the bad conduct of people in general, for in the latter topic the Herr Notary was well posted, because he had cultivated the habit of looking around him, and never acquired that of looking within. ”Yes,” said he, telling about a merchant in Rahnstadt, ”Just think, Herr von Rambow, how wicked men are! There, out of pure kindness,--that is, on account of the interest which I must pay, for I hadn't so much money lying idle, I had to borrow it myself,--I lent him the money, and helped him out of his difficulties, and he was so thankful,--and now--now that I want it again, must have it, he is rough, he threatens to complain of me for charging illegal interest.”

Of course there was not a word of truth in this story, the notary only told it to frighten the Herr Lieutenant, and it answered the purpose.

In order to turn the conversation, he asked what sort of business the merchant was engaged in.

But the notary was not to be diverted; he did not answer the question, but went on with his story.

”But I have entered a complaint against him, and now let him look out!

His credit is good for nothing,--and then the disgrace! It is not exactly entered yet, to be sure, but I have written it myself. What do you say to that?” The poor lieutenant was terribly distressed, the prospect looked as dark as if this was but the few drops before a heavy storm. He coughed, and cleared his throat, but said nothing, for he could think of nothing to say. It made no difference to the notary, he went on:

”But, thank G.o.d! I don't often have to deal with such idiots, this fellow is an exception. And since we are talking of money business,”--here he drew out his pocket-book,--”will you allow me to give you back your note?”

He held out the note for eight hundred and thirty dollars, and the rat-like ears seemed to erect themselves, and the grey eyes to protrude from the grayish yellow face, and the dry lips to moisten, like a rat when he smells bacon. The poor lieutenant took the note, and attempted to put aside the matter with a semblance of indifference.

Yes, he said, he would send him the money; he had started so suddenly, and the occasion of his journey had been so sad, that he had not thought of the matter.

Yes, replied the notary, he believed him, he knew how it was when his own father died; at such a time, a man thinks of nothing but his loss,--and he put on such a melancholy face, that the lieutenant took fresh courage,--but, said the notary, he had thought a great deal of this note lately, he depended on it, for he was under engagements, and to meet them,--he must have money.

”But this is such a trifling matter,” interrupted Axel.

”Well, yes,” said the notary, taking other papers from his pocket-book; ”but then these little matters too!” and he laid on the table the notes for over two thousand dollars, which David had bought up at the lieutenant's garrison town.