"I wanted to save the interest; and if you can get back two million for one--in the meantime--of course--as things stand at present----"
"You may be thankful that the directors have postponed the date of payment of the second instalment, which was due to-morrow."
"Certainly," said the Count; "it is very kind of the gentlemen. I should have been in a terrible position; but it has not made my situation even now particularly pleasant. That confounded mortgage! My creditor is most disagreeably pressing; he says he must have the money back."
"Perhaps it may now transpire who this creditor really is whom you make such a mystery about?"
"I have given my word of honour----"
"Then say nothing. It is all the same to me, moreover; and if you can pay half a million to-morrow to the gentleman in question, you can also raise my five thousand!"
"I do not know yet whether I shall be able to pay!" cried the Count impatiently--"Lübbener--Haselow and Co.--I could not stand Lübbener any longer--unlimited orders to sell; but if to-morrow our shares go down still further--they stood the day before yesterday at forty-five----"
"And yesterday at twenty-five!"
"Impossible!" cried the Count.
"Good heavens, man! have you never troubled yourself to inquire, then?"