"Lower your demands a little, Timm," he said, in a subdued voice. "I must confess it is a matter of the very greatest importance for me to bury the whole affair in silence, and if it depended on myself alone I might not be unwilling to pay you the sum which you demand. But you know my aunt, and you know that she would rather let matters go on to the last point than to make such an enormous sacrifice. I tell you, Timm, it can't be done; upon my word, it can't be done. And what do you want with so much money at once? You will lose it in a few unlucky nights at roulette, and then you are poorer than you ever were before. Come, now, I'll make you an offer. We will pay you for one year four hundred dollars a month, and at the end of the year six thousand dollars in a lump." "Altogether ten thousand eight hundred dollars," replied Albert. "Won't do; and besides, what security can you give me that all the payments will be made?" "The documents, which in the mean time you may retain in your possession and which you are not expected to hand over till the six thousand dollars are paid." "Well!" said Albert, "it is not much; but among good friends we ought not to insist too strictly. I accept." "Let us make it out in writing." "Why? If we do not wish to keep our word, we'll break it, anyhow; and besides, a paper of that kind might, if it should fall into the hands of the wrong person, commit the family of Grenwitz more seriously than they would like, and would, after all, but put one more weapon in my hands. You see I am perfectly candid." "_Bon!_" said Felix. "Do you want the first four hundred at once?" "I should think so." Felix rose, took one of the lights, and went to a bureau which was standing back in the room, opened a drawer, took a few packages of bank-notes from it and placed them on the table before Albert. "Count them!" "It is not necessary," said Albert, slipping the parcel into his pocket; "your aunt never makes a mistake in counting. Well, Grenwitz, that matter is nicely arranged; now let us have a bottle of wine upon it--I have talked so much I am quite thirsty. If you permit me I will ring the bell." "Pray do so!" Felix ordered the servant who came to bring a bottle of Hock and two glasses. Felix was rather pleased to see that Albert was in better humor; he had another question to ask yet, which no one could answer as well as he could. "You have seen, Timm," he said, filling the glasses, "that I have met you half way, as far as I could. One service is worth another. Will you do me a favor?" "Let us hear." "Then tell me, how is little Marguerite?" "What interest have you in her?" "Well, I do have an interest in her." "And why do you think I know anything about her?" "Because I have observed you both at Grenwitz, and besides--well, for divers other reasons." "For instance?"