"I should like to finish this matter before dinner. There is not much
time left."
"Then I shall have Francis telephone that we are at home, and we expect
him." She waited at the door.
"Yes, that's all right," he answered, already absorbed in the papers his
clerk had spread before him.
"Good-by, Benas! Good-by, Mr. Elkish."
"Good-by, my child," he called to her as she was leaving.
"This only awaits your signature, Mr. Benas. Here. A dividend of
fourteen per cent and a half."
"Really, Elkish? I'm delighted!"
"Yes, and here, 240,000 mark in the sinking fund, then 516,000 mark for
surplus."
"Excellent! Splendid!" He put on his eyeglasses and signed the various
papers placed before him.
"And who do you think will be elected to the board this year?"
"I thought Gluecksmann and Ettinger."
"The time for the Breitbachs and Knesebecks is past.... Well, as far as
I am concerned, both of them may count upon my vote."
"Mr. Breitbach has not been here for an age," remarked Elkish with a
shrewd look.
"Well! To offset that, Herr Regierungsrat Dr. Weilen wishes to visit us
to-day--a cousin of my wife."
"He?" The eyes of the old clerk flamed suddenly with burning hatred. "He
is baptized, Herr Geheimrat. A grandson of Rabbi Eliezer,.... the first
in the family."
"That is not so certain," murmured the Kommerzienrat under his breath.
"And merely to further his prospects! A grandson of Rabbi Eliezer!"
Unbounded contempt was expressed by the tone of the faithful clerk, for
many years the confidant of his chief, whom he had accompanied from
their former home to Berlin.
"How does the cat get across the stream, Elkish? As a Jew he would have
had no future, even if he were a direct descendant of King David."
"And is a career everything?"
"One is ambitious, and one must--why not succeed?"
"How about the honorable Geheimrat himself? Haven't you succeeded? If
one is able to declare a dividend of fourteen and a half per cent, isn't
that success? And if one owns a villa in the Tiergartenstrasse, isn't
that what you call success? And if one's son serves with the Dragoons of
the Guard? And Miss Rita studies music with Jedlitzka, and literature
with Erich Schmidt? She told me so yesterday. Isn't all that success? I
tell you, Herr Kommerzienrat, that is success enough. Who buys pictures
of Menzel, and busts of Begas, who, indeed? Krupp and Joshua Benas of
Lissa. That's what _I_ call success." The longer he spoke, the more
intense his enthusiasm, and unconsciously he lapsed into the Jewish
intonation, which ordinarily did not characterize his speech.
"Not every one can get to be a Kommerzienrat, Elkish. Earning money is
unquestionably a very nice thing, but there are idealists who seek
advancement in other ways."
"Idealists! Fine idealists, who sell their religion as Dr. Weilen has
done. The whole Duchy of Posen was scandalized! A grandson of Rabbi
Eliezer! And what does he want of you? Mrs. Benas, I hope, will show him
what she thinks of the like of him. I'm certainly surprised that with
her views she should consent to receive him."
"He wishes to speak of family affairs."
"Family affairs?" sneered the old man. "Chutzpeh! Perhaps he wants to
borrow money of you. That's what usually makes such people remember
their family."
"Why, you're in a fine mood to-day, Elkish."
"My mood is always spoilt when I think of such matters, Mr. Benas. After
all it is really none of my business. If I had had the _Zechus_ to
belong to the family of Rabbi Akiba Friedlaender, I should not have
allowed such a person to cross my threshold."
"Calm yourself, Elkish."
"Why should I calm myself? I am not at all excited. It does not concern
me. You must consider what you are doing; and the main thing after all
is that to-morrow we declare fourteen and a half per cent."
"Yes, Elkish, after all, that is the main thing."
* * * * *
At precisely nine o'clock the servant brought in the card of
Regierungsrat Dr. Victor Weilen.
As was their custom in the evening when at home to a small circle, the
family was assembled in the little round sitting-room. The Geheimrat was
seated in an American rocking-chair, near a revolving book-case, in
which the evening papers were carefully arranged on their racks. He was
smoking a "Henry Clay," and was busily engaged in studying the stock
quotations in the "National".
The tea-table, at which Mrs. Benas sat, with its fine silver service,
its costly embroidered silk table cover, and with cakes and fruit
arranged in beautiful old Meissen bowls, made an attractive picture. An
atmosphere of comfort pervaded the room, which despite the luxuriousness
of its furnishings made a cozy impression. Artistic vases filled with
fresh flowers, fantastically arranged, added to the charm--orchids,
delicate and sensitive; chysanthemums of brilliant coloring; bright
Chinese lilies curiously shaped, and fire-red berries on thorny
branches. Interspersed among these exotic flowers were graceful violets,
lilies of the valley, roses, and lilacs, amid tall foliage plants. The
display of flowers drew one's attention away from the artistic objects
with which the room was filled, but not overburdened. A rich and refined
taste was shown in the whole arrangement. Dr. Weilen appreciated it the
instant he entered the room. Mr. Benas had advanced a few steps to greet
his guest, which he did formally, but cordially, and then presented his
wife and his daughter Rita. When the visitor entered, Rita put aside the
latest publication by Fontane which she had been reading.