"Permit that these servants withdraw, and order them to close the doors," said the book-keeper, almost commandingly. Ebenstreit, overruled by the solemn earnestness, obeyed against his will.
"Would you like me to leave also, sir?" said Marie, with a calm, haughty manner. "You have only to ask it and the baron will, undoubtedly, accord your request.""On the contrary, I beg you to remain," quietly replied Splittgerber, "for what I have to say concerns you and your husband equally.""Now, then, I beg you to say it quickly," cried Ebenstreit, impatiently; "I repeat, that we are very busy with preparing for to-day's festival."
"You will not give any fete to-day," said Splittgerber, solemnly.
Ebenstreit, cringing and frightened, gazed at the old man who looked sadly at him.
The baroness laughed aloud, sneeringly. "My dear sir, your tone and manner remind me of the wicked spirit at the horrible moment in the story when be comes to demand the bartered soul, and the enchanted castle falls a wreck!""Your comparison is an apt one, baroness," sighed the old man.--"Icame to you, baron, because I loved your father. I have served your house thirty years, and amassed the little I had to commence business with in your service. Moreover, when you so suddenly dismissed me, you not only gave me my salary as a pension, but you funded the annuity with a considerable sum, which makes me, through your house, independent in means.""You may thank my wife for that. She demanded, when I dismissed you, that I should compensate you with the liberality of a true nobleman.""Oh, would that you had not done it, baroness!" cried Splittgerber--"would that you had permitted the old faithful pioneer in the business to remain by your husband! He might have warded off this misfortune and saved you by his experience and advice.""For this very reason I demanded your removal. You permitted yourself to proffer advice which I felt did not become you," replied Marie, with a strange smile of triumph.
"And, I repeat, would that you had not done it!" sighed the old man.
"I came to warn you, to conjure you, to save yourselves--to flee while there is yet time.""Oh, mercy! what has happened?" cried Ebenstreit, terrified.
"The banking-house of Ebenstreit, founded under the name of Ludwig, associated with Ehlert of Amsterdam, four months since, to buy and load ships for the Calcutta market. Herr Ebenstreit gathered together the last wrecks of his fortune remaining from his ruinous speculations, to win enormously in this investment. Besides, he indorsed the notes of the Amsterdam house for the sum of eighty thousand dollars, which has been drawn, so that their notes are protested there. Herr Ebenstreit will have to pay this sum!""What else?" asked Ebenstreit, almost breathless.
"The house of Ehlert, in Amsterdam, has failed; the principal has fled with the coffers; the notes for eighty thousand dollars were protested, and you, baron, must pay this sum to-day, or declare yourself a bankrupt, and go to prison for debt."Instantaneously a suppressed cry and a laugh were heard. Ebenstreit sank upon a seat, concealing his pallid face with his hands, while Marie stood at his side, her face beaming with joy.
"I am lost, I do not possess the eighth part of that sum! I cannot pay it. I must submit, for there are no further means to prevent it.""No," replied Marie, with haughty tranquillity, "you have no further means to prevent it. The rich banker Ebenstreit will leave this house, no longer his own, to enter the debtor's prison poor as a beggar--nay, worse, a defrauder!""Oh, how cruel you are!" groaned Ebenstreit.
"Did you say, baroness, that this house is no longer his?" asked Splittgerber, alarmed.
"No," she triumphantly cried. "It belongs to me, and all that is in it--the pictures, statues, silver, diamonds, and pearls. Oh, I am still a rich woman!""And do you mean to retain this wealth if your husband becomes bankrupt? Do you not possess a common interest?" asked Splittgerber.
"No, thank Heaven, the community of interest was given up a year since," cried Ebenstreit, joyfully. "Baroness von Ebenstreit is the lawful possessor of this house and furniture. I was not so indiscreet as you supposed. I have at least secured this to my wife, and she will be a rich woman even if I fail, and will not let me starve. I shall divide about ten per cent with my creditors, but my wife will be rich enough for us both.""This gives me to understand that you intend to make a fraudulent bankruptcy. You have settled every thing upon your wife to save yourself from the unhappy consequences of your failure. You will still be a rich man if your wife should sell her house, works of art, diamonds, gold and silver service, and equipages.""Yes, indeed, a very rich man," said Marie. "In the last few weeks Ihave had my property estimated, and it would at least bring three hundred thousand dollars.""If the baron only possessed this, he could pay his creditors, and have a small amount over, sufficient to live upon economically and genteelly. But you would rather enjoy splendor, and are not particular about living honorably. You will undoubtedly sell your property, and go to Paris, to revel in luxury and pleasure, while your defrauded creditors may, through you come to poverty and want.--Baron, I now see that your wife did well to bring about my removal.