"I can't discuss her with you," said Mr. Feuerstein. "Doubtless you mean well. I'm obliged to you for coming. I'll see." He rose. "Is that all?" said Otto. "What more can I say?" "But what are you going to DO?" "I don't see how I can prevent a lot of ignorant people from gossiping." "Then you're not going straight down there? You're not going to do what a man'd do if he had the decency of a dog?" "You are insulting! But because I believe you mean well, I shall tell you that it is impossible for me to go for several days at least. As soon as I honorably can, I shall come and the scandal will vanish like smoke." Otto let him go. "I mustn't thrash him, and I can't compel him to be a man." He returned to the German Theater; he must learn all he could about this Feuerstein. "Did you see him?" asked the ticket-seller. "Yes, but I didn't get anything." Otto looked so down that the ticket-seller was moved to pity, to generosity. "Well, I'll give you a tip. Keep after him; keep your eye on him. He's got a rich father-in-law." Otto leaned heavily on the sill of the little window. "Father-in-law?" A sickening suspicion peered into his mind. "He was full the other night and he told one of our people he was married to a rich man's daughter." "Was the name Brauner?" asked Otto. "He didn't name any names. But--let me think--they say it's a daughter of a brewer, away up town. Yes, Ganser--I think that was the name." "Oh!" Otto's face brightened. "Where is Ganser's place?" he asked. "I don't know--look in the directory. But the tip is to wait a few days. He hasn't got hold of any of the old man's money yet--there's some hitch. There'll be plenty for all when it comes, so you needn't fret." Otto went to the brewery, but Peter had gone home. Otto went on to the house and Peter came down to the brilliant parlor, where the battle of hostile shades and colors was raging with undiminished fury. In answer to Peter's look of inquiry, he said: "I came about your son-in-law, Mr. Feuerstein." "Who are you? Who told you?" asked Peter, wilting into a chair. "They told me at the theater." Peter gave a sort of groan. "It's out!" he cried, throwing up his thick, short arms. "Everybody knows!" Shrewd Otto saw the opening. "I don't think so," he replied, "at least not yet. He has a bad reputation--I see you know that already. But it's nothing to what he will have when it comes out that he's been trying to marry a young lady down town since he married your daughter." "But it mustn't come out!" exclaimed Ganser. "I won't have it. This scandal has disgraced me enough." "That's what I came to see you about," said Otto. "The young lady and her friends don't know about his marriage. It isn't necessary that any of them should know, except her. But she must be put on her guard. He might induce her to run away with him." "Rindsvieh!" muttered Ganser, his hair and whiskers bristling. "Dreck!"