At this the door opened, and Veitel plunged into the shadow of the staircase. "I will give you till to-morrow to consider," were Pinkus's parting words. Veitel coolly stepped into the office, and his patron hardly noticed him. He was pacing up and down the little room, like a wild beast in its cage, and exclaiming, "Just heavens! that this Pinkus should turn out such a traitor! He will blab the whole matter; he will ruin me!" "Why should he ruin you?" asked Veitel, throwing his hat on the desk. "What are you doing here? What have you overheard?" "Every thing," was the cool reply. "You have both screamed so as to be heard all over the hall. Why do you keep the affair a secret from me? I could have compelled Loebel to give you better terms." Ehrenthal stared in utter amazement at the audacious youth, and could only bring out, "What does this mean?" "I know Pinkus well," continued Veitel, determined henceforth to take a part in the game. "If you give him a hundred dollars, he will readily sell you a good mortgage for the baron." "How should you know any thing about the mortgage?" "I know enough to help in the matter," replied Itzig; "and I will help you, if you trust me." Ehrenthal continued to stare and stare, till at last it dawned upon him that his assistant had more coolness and decision than himself. Accordingly, he said, "You are a good creature, Veitel; go and bring in Pinkus; he shall have the hundred dollars." "I have seen the directions of the councilor's letters: there was one to Commissary Walter." "I thought so," cried Ehrenthal, with delight. "All right, Itzig; now for Loebel." "I have to pay five dollars to the councilor's clerk," continued the youth, "and I am to have a ducat for myself." "All right! you shall have the money; but first I must see Pinkus." Veitel hastened to his lodgings, and found Pinkus still much excited, and revolving all Ehrenthal's injurious speeches. In a few decided words, he gave him to understand that he was quietly to accept a hundred dollars, and to help Ehrenthal in this matter, else he, Veitel, would give the police a hint of the mysterious chamber in the next house, and of the smuggling guests; and further, that henceforth he must have a comfortable room on reasonable terms, and be treated no longer like a poor devil, but an equal. The result of which address was, that, after a good deal of useless fuming and fretting, Pinkus accompanied Veitel to Ehrenthal's house, where both worthies shook hands and came to terms; soon after which Veitel opened the door for Loewenberg, the wine-merchant, and was politely dismissed. This time he did not care to listen, but returned to enjoy his supper in his new apartment. Meanwhile Ehrenthal said, over a glass of wine, to Loewenberg, "I have heard that Councilor Horn has written for information respecting this mortgage to Commissary Walter, in your town. Is there any thing to be made of him?"