"I will employ as my coadjutor a safe man--the Commissary Walter--so that you may see that all is done legally.

You will give me authority to bid for the property, and to raise it thus to such a sum as shall insure your mortgage being covered by the purchase-money that some other will pay." "I know that this will be necessary," said the baron; "but, for God's sake, Ehrenthal, what will be done if the property remains upon our hands!" Ehrenthal shrugged his shoulders.

"You know that I did not persuade you into the mortgage; indeed, I may say, if I remember aright, that I even dissuaded you from it.

If you had taken my advice then, you would probably never have bought that mortgage." "The thing is done, however," returned the baron, irascibly.
"First of all, baron, I must beg you to admit that I am innocent of this matter." "That is immaterial now." "It is immaterial to you," said Ehrenthal, "but not to me, and to my honor as a man of business." "What do you mean by that ?" cried the baron, in a tone that made Ehrenthal start.

"Do you dare to insinuate that any thing can be immaterial to me about which even your honor is sensitive ?" "Why are you so irritable, baron?
I say nothing against your honor God forbid that I should." "You spoke of it, though," said the unhappy man.
"How can you thus misunderstand an old acquaintance?
I only wish for your declaration that I am innocent of the purchase of this mortgage." "Be it so," cried the baron, stamping.
"Then it is all right.