"With whom? You have tried what?" asked the other, with such a horrified expression that Arthur looked at him in surprise.
"To come to an understanding with Hartmann. It was not done officially, it is true, that might have been interpreted as a sign of weakness. It was when we met one day accidentally that I held out my hand to him once again."
"You should not have done it," interrupted the other almost passionately. "Held out your hand to that man! But I had forgotten, you know nothing as yet."
"I should not?" repeated Arthur sharply. "May I ask what you mean, sir? Be satisfied that I am well able to maintain the dignity of my position even on such an occasion as that."
The chief-engineer had already regained his composure.
"Excuse me, Herr Berkow, I intended in no way to criticise your conduct as master of the works, it was in your position as the son that I----but you are ignorant of the reports connected with your father's last moments. We agreed not to mention them before you; it was done with the best intention, but now I see that we were wrong, that you must be told. You would have offered Hartmann your hand, and that, I repeat, ought not to have been."
Arthur looked at him fixedly. His face had grown colourless and his lips quivered.
"You speak of Hartmann and of my father's death. Is there any connection between the two?"
"I fear so, we all fear so. General suspicion rests upon the Deputy, not among us alone, but among his fellow-miners."
"Down there in the shaft," cried Arthur terribly agitated. "A murderous assault on a defenceless man! I do not believe that of Hartmann."