“Manasses was an honest man. That salary—”
“Was not intended for him, I have no doubt; but he thought otherwise, for he always kept it for himself alone.”
“You are slandering him.”
“Well, whether that is so or not, he is dead; and the other—”
“He is dead, too. I know it.”
“You know it! How do you know it?”
“I am not obliged to say. But I am certain that he is dead, and you can tell the baron anything you please. I am not afraid of you. Adieu! I have not long to live, so leave me to prepare for another world; it is the only thing that I occupy myself about. Adieu! Leave me, I tell you. I have no money.”
“That is your last word, is it? You know that within two hours I shall have taken service with the baron?”
“That makes no difference to me.”
“You don’t suppose I have come so far to be paid with nothing but such talk?”