"Well, well," he began again. "What's to be done? If my sister takes something into her head…. And anyhow, I'll tell you in confidence, she is a devil. Oh deary me, what I have to put up with from her! It's no good getting into trouble with her! … If you want to avoid any unpleasantness, I can only advise you to consent right away…. You can back out later…. But that would be the easiest way."
Niebeldingk laughed heartily.
"Yes, you can laugh," the old gentleman said sadly, "that's because you don't know my sister."
"But you know her, my dear man. And do you suppose that she may have other, that is to say, financial aims, while she——"
The old gentleman looked at him with great scared eyes.
"How do you mean?" he said and crushed the brown handkerchief in his hollow hand.
"Well, well, well," Niebeldingk quieted him and poured a reconciling second glass of wine.
But he wasn't to be bribed.
"Permit me, my dear sir," he said, "but you misunderstand me entirely…. Even if I do help my sister in the house, and even if I do go on errands, I would never have consented to go on such an one…. I said to my sister: It's marriage or nothing…. We don't go in for blackmail, of that you may be sure." "Well, my dear man," Niebeldingk laughed, "If that's the alternative, then—nothing!"
The old gentleman grew quite peaceable again.