He laid the foundation of my prosperity, and preserved my heir to me, for whom alone I am working and striving.

If Wilhelm were with us now, he would not refuse my request, and with that thought before you, Herr Doctor, you will not pain me by refusing." The words came from Paul's heart, and showed that he felt keenly the desire to do homage, in his way, to Wilhelm's memory.

Schrotter could not but accept.
To all outward appearances he had recovered from the terrible shock of his friend's death, in reality, however, he was all the less likely to have got over his loss, owing to the circumstance that he was often busied with the management of Wilhelm's affairs, and thus the wound was inevitably kept open.
Wilhelm left no will.

After much inquiry, it was discovered that he had a very distant relative living at Lowenhagen, near Konigsberg, married to a poor village smith, and lavishly endowed with children.

The house in the Kochstrasse went to her--a very windfall, for which the honest wife and mother was too thankful to be able to simulate grief at the death of the relative she had never known.