Part 90 (1/2)
”I know it.”
”Moses, you must withdraw your suit; your money is safely invested.”
”What do you call safe? I spoke to you about it last spring. In such times as these property is not safe, a man is safer; but Herr von Rambow is not a man whom I can trust, he is a bad manager, he is a fool about horses, he is a----”
”Hold! Remember his wife is here.”
”Well, I remember.”
Frida was suffering tortures. They were silent for awhile; then Habermann began again:
”If there was a prospect that the estate could be rented----”
”Who would rent in such times?” said Moses.
”Or the Herr von Rambow would agree to engage a regular inspector, and leave the management to him----”
”Habermann,” interrupted Moses, ”you are an old man, and you are a shrewd man. You know the world, and you know the Herr von Rambow; did you ever know a Herr who said, 'I will be master no longer, I will let another be master?'”
Habermann was rather taken aback by this question, he looked inquiringly at the young Frau, and Frida dropped her eyes, and said:
”I am afraid Herr Moses is right; my husband does not understand it.”
Moses looked at her approvingly, and muttered to himself, ”She is a clever woman, she is an honest woman.”
Habermann was perplexed; he sat in deep thought, and finally said:
”Well, Moses, if the Frau von Rambow, or I, or circ.u.mstances, should influence the young Herr to consent to this plan, and if, for the security of the creditors, he should give a promise to resign the management, and engage a competent inspector, would you withdraw your suit?”
”I would withdraw it for a year; well, say two years.”
”Well, then you will leave your money in the estate; but there are other debts which must be paid; there are Pomuchelskopp's eight thousand thalers.”
”I know it,” said Moses to himself.
”Then there the debts owing to tradesmen and mechanics, which have not been paid for a year; and the people's wages must be paid and repairs attended to; it will take about six thousand thalers.”
”I know it,” said Moses.
”Then there is a note for thirteen thousand thalers, in Schwerin, which must be paid immediately.”
”Good heavens!” exclaimed Moses, ”I did not know a word of it.”
”Yes, and then,” continued Habermann, without noticing this remark, ”we must have two or three thousand thalers over, to carry on the estate properly.”
”Let me go! It is a bad business, a very bad business!” cried Moses, making a motion as if he would rise from the sofa.
”Hold on, Moses! I have not done yet.”
”Let me go! Let me go! I am an old man, I cannot involve myself in such a business,” and with that he rose to his feet, and made preparations to go.