“Twelve thousand marks I must have, and not a penny less, for I’ll have to make a clear track. I’m about badgered to death by these unceasing dunning letters and complaints in the courts.” “Hm, and how did you think you were going to manage this matter?” “I have some more addresses of financial men, usurers, you know. If I could get you once more to go security for me, I think we ought to be able to attain our end.” “Security? Security? Yes, it is easy for you to talk that way, my dear boy; but finally there must be something in the background in order to assume responsibility for another’s debts. I must tell you frankly that if you can’t meet this payment of three thousand marks of last month, there will be the devil to pay for me, since I went bail for you.” “I do not think there is any need of your being so explicit; as a matter of course, I shall meet my obligations.” “I don’t doubt it in the least; but for me it is indeed impossible to become security for you once more. Not only that, but I have to ask you to let me have some money, for I really do need some very badly.” “With the greatest of pleasure,” said Borgert with a sinister smile; “but why don’t you raise money on your ‘commiss-fortune’?[19] That, it strikes me, would be the surest way of obtaining it.” [19] “Commiss-fortune”--the term applied to the dowry of an officer’s wife, which must reach a certain figure.--TR. “My ‘commiss-fortune’? Very well put; but I’d have to have one in order to raise money on it.” “What have you been marrying on, then?” asked Borgert in amazement. “I only had it four weeks in my hands, when it was returned to the party who had lent it for a consideration until I had obtained the official consent.” Borgert looked in consternation at his friend and then began to measure the room in nervous excitement. “In that case,” he began, after making several turns of the room, “I will make another proposition: I become surety for you, and you for me.” “Good,” cried Leimann, joyfully; “but it is a somewhat ticklish business, for some time or other there is bound to come a crash, and then if neither of us has a penny there will be the deuce and all.” “That catastrophe will not happen, my most beloved friend, because if I can pull through once more there will be nothing to fear for me. I shall marry.” “By the eternal gods, but you have amazing courage! Only let me tell you, be careful in the choice of your father-in-law, otherwise it is a worse than useless arrangement. I myself can speak from experience.” “That is a matter of course; I shan’t marry on empty promises. For less than half a million they cannot do business with me.” “Well, I wish you luck; but, come to think of it, how is it about König? Couldn’t he be induced to come out with a few thousand marks?” “I’ve thought of him, but it seems to me doubtful whether he can be got at. For, first of all, we would have to pay him the old score.”