"I'm not going to miss my train, and anyway, another one goes to-morrow. My dear Therese, this is the only thing I want to say--each person should find happiness in his own way. But in this case your brother and not you is the cleverer of you two. Excuse me, I'm perhaps a layman in politics, but I assure you, Therese, exactly the same thing will happen to you Jewish Social Democrats as happened to the Jewish Liberals and German Nationalists." "How do you mean?" asked Therese haughtily. "In what way will the same thing happen to us?" "In what way...? I'll tell you soon enough. Who created the Liberal movement in Austria?... the Jews. By whom have the Jews been betrayed and deserted? By the Liberals. Who created the National-German movement in Austria? the Jews. By whom were the Jews left in the lurch?... what--left in the lurch!... Spat upon like dogs!... By the National-Germans, and precisely the same thing will happen in the case of Socialism and Communism. As soon as you've drawn the chestnuts out of the fire they'll start driving you away from the table. It always has been so and always will be so." "We will wait and see," Therese replied quietly. George and Demeter looked at each other like two friends marooned together on a desert island. Oskar, who had come in during the middle of his father's speech, compressed his lips and was very embarrassed. But they all felt a kind of deliverance when Ehrenberg suddenly looked at his watch and took his leave. "We certainly shan't agree to-day," he said to Therese. Therese smiled. "Scarcely. Hope you will enjoy your journey and I want once more to ... to thank you in the name of...." "Hush!" said Ehrenberg and vanished. "What are you thanking papa for?" said Else. "For a gift of money for which I came to ask him in the most shameless manner. Apart from him there is not a single rich man in the circle of my acquaintances. I am not in a position to speak of the purpose for which it is wanted." Frau Ehrenberg came up to Bermann and Nürnberger, who were continuing their conversation over the top of the piano, and said softly: "Of course you know that she"--then she looked at Therese--"has just been released from prison." "I read about it," said Heinrich. Nürnberger half shut his eyes and cast a glance at the group in the corner where the three girls were talking to Stanzides and Willy Eissler and shook his head. "What cynicism are you suppressing?" said Frau Ehrenberg. "I was just thinking how easily it might have come about for Fräulein Else to have languished two months in prison and for Fräulein Therese to have held receptions in a stylish drawing-room as daughter of the house." "Easily come about?" "Herr Ehrenberg has had good luck, Herr Golowski bad luck.... Perhaps that is the only difference."