"But that need not hinder you from receiving the Regierungsrat. We're still good for something, I suppose. What think you, Elkish?" he called to him as he entered. "I do not know to what you refer." "Well, what else can I refer to but our balance-sheet?" "As regards that, the firm of Joshua Benas has no need to hide its head," the old clerk responded proudly. "Well, do you see, dear child?" he said to his wife. "Do as you think best, I rely upon your judgment. You always do the right thing." She rose. "I will not interrupt you any longer." "I should like to finish this matter before dinner. There is not much time left." "Then I shall have Francis telephone that we are at home, and we expect him." She waited at the door. "Yes, that's all right," he answered, already absorbed in the papers his clerk had spread before him. "Good-by, Benas! Good-by, Mr. Elkish." "Good-by, my child," he called to her as she was leaving. "This only awaits your signature, Mr. Benas. Here. A dividend of fourteen per cent and a half." "Really, Elkish? I'm delighted!" "Yes, and here, 240,000 mark in the sinking fund, then 516,000 mark for surplus." "Excellent! Splendid!" He put on his eyeglasses and signed the various papers placed before him. "And who do you think will be elected to the board this year?" "I thought Gluecksmann and Ettinger." "The time for the Breitbachs and Knesebecks is past.... Well, as far as I am concerned, both of them may count upon my vote." "Mr. Breitbach has not been here for an age," remarked Elkish with a shrewd look. "Well! To offset that, Herr Regierungsrat Dr. Weilen wishes to visit us to-day--a cousin of my wife." "He?" The eyes of the old clerk flamed suddenly with burning hatred. "He is baptized, Herr Geheimrat. A grandson of Rabbi Eliezer,.... the first in the family." "That is not so certain," murmured the Kommerzienrat under his breath. "And merely to further his prospects! A grandson of Rabbi Eliezer!" Unbounded contempt was expressed by the tone of the faithful clerk, for many years the confidant of his chief, whom he had accompanied from their former home to Berlin. "How does the cat get across the stream, Elkish? As a Jew he would have had no future, even if he were a direct descendant of King David." "And is a career everything?" "One is ambitious, and one must--why not succeed?"