Should you require further money, you must take a mortgage on your property until you can replace the whole." The proposal appeared disinterested and friendly, but the baron felt a certain misgiving, and declined it.
Accordingly, Ehrenthal had to retire, saying, "You can think the matter over; I shall, at all events, put off the forming of the company for a month." From that day forth the baron was deluged with letters, notes, and messages.

First Ehrenthal wrote to say he had got the month's delay; then Herr Karfunkelstein, one of the projected company, wrote to say he resigned his pretensions; then Ehrenthal wrote again, inclosing the yearly accounts of a similar factory, that the profits might be judged of.

Then a Herr Wolfsdorf wrote to offer capital at a low rate of interest.

Then, lastly, an unknown person of the name of Itzigveit wrote to beg that at least the baron would not enter into partnership with Ehrenthal, as was rumored in the town, for, though a rich, he was a very selfish man, and that the writer could advance capital on much better terms; whereupon Ehrenthal wrote again that some of his enemies were, he knew, intriguing against him, and wishing to make money themselves in the baron's promising undertaking, but that the baron must please himself; that, for his part, he was an honorable man, and did not wish to push himself forward.
The consequence of all these communications was, that the baron grew familiar with the thought of building his factory with borrowed money.
However, there was one thing that offended his pride, and that was the thought of Ehrenthal as a shareholder; so far the letter of the unknown Itzigveit had taken effect.
During the next month he was the prey of a miserable irresolution, and his wife, in silent sorrow, observed his excitement.

He often went to town, and often inspected similar factories.