Part 14 (2/2)
”And if I now tell you for the hundredth, but not the last time, that I have not got any money?”
”Then I shall go to the war department and attach your salary.”
”Ah, my dear friend, there you would be altogether too late,” exclaimed Gentz, laughing. ”My honorable landlord has outstripped you as far as that is concerned; he has attached my salary for a whole year, and I believe it is even insufficient to cover what I owe him.”
”But in the d--l's name, sir, you must find some other means of satisfying my claim, for I tell you I shall not leave this room without getting my money.”
”My dear Mr. Werner, pray do not shout so dreadfully,” said Gentz, anxiously; ”my ears are very sensitive, and such shouting terrifies me as much as a thunderstorm. I am quite willing to pay you, only point out to me a way to do it!”
”Borrow money of other people and then pay me!”
”My dear sir, that is a way I have exhausted long ago. There is no one willing to advance me money either on interest or on my word of honor.”
”But how in the d--l's name are you going to pay me then, sir?”
”That is exactly what I don't know yet, but after a while I shall know, and that time will come very soon. For I tell you, sir, these days of humiliations and debts will soon cease for me. I shall occupy an exalted and brilliant position; the young king will give it to me, and--”
”Fiddlesticks!” exclaimed Wemer, interrupting him; ”do not feed me with such empty hopes after I have fed you with delicacies and quenched your thirst with my champagne.”
”My dear sir, I have not partaken all alone of your good cheer; my friends have helped me, and now you ask me alone to pay the whole bill.
That is contrary to natural law and to political economy.”
”Mr. Counsellor, are you mocking me with your political economy? What do you know about economy?”
”Ah, I am quite familiar with it, and my book on English finances has brought me fame and honor.”
”It would have been better for you, Mr. Counsellor, if you had attended to your own finances. All Berlin knows in what condition they are.”
”Nevertheless, there were always excellent men putting a n.o.ble trust in me, and believing that I would repay the money I borrowed of them. You are one of those excellent men, Mr. Werner, and I shall never forget it.
Have a little patience, and I will pay you princ.i.p.al and interest.”
”I cannot wait, Mr. Counsellor. I am in the greatest embarra.s.sment myself; I have to redeem large notes in the course of a few days, and unless I can do so I am lost, my whole family is ruined, and my reputation gone; then I must declare myself insolvent, and suffer people to call me an impostor and villain, who incurs debts without knowing wherewith to pay them. Sir, I shall never suffer this, and therefore I must have my money, and I will not leave this room until you have paid my claim in full.”
”In that case, my dear sir, I am afraid you will have to remain here and suffer the same distressing fate as Lot's unfortunate wife--”
”Sir, pray be serious, for my business here is of a very serious character. Five hundred dollars is no trifle; a man may squander them in a few days, but they may cause him also to commit suicide. Pay me, sir, pay me; I want my money!”
”For G.o.d's sake, do not shout in this manner. I told you once already that I cannot stand it. I know very well that five hundred dollars is a serious matter, and that you must have your money. I will make an effort, nay, I will do my utmost to get it for you; but you must be quiet. I pledge you my word that I will exert myself to the best of my power in order to obtain that amount for you, but in return you must promise me to go home quietly and peaceably, and to wait there until I bring you the money.”
”What are you going to do? How are you going to get the money? You told me just now you were unable to borrow any thing.”
”But somebody may give me those miserable five hundred dollars, and it seems to me that would do just as well.”
”Oh, you are laughing at me.”
”By no means, sir. Just be still and let me write a letter. I will afterward show you the address, and thereby let you know from whom I am expecting a.s.sistance.”
He walked rapidly to his desk, penned a few lines, and placed the paper in a large envelope, which he sealed and directed.
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