I had not expected the honour of seeing you, but I wish to say a few words on business to your husband." "There he is; you can speak to him." "Anything that I can do, I shall be very happy," said Karil Zamenoy, who had risen from his chair to prevent the necessity of having to ask the Jew to sit down.
"Herr Zamenoy," began the Jew, "you are, I think, aware that my father has purchased from your friend and brother-in-law, Josef Balatka, certain houses in the Kleinseite, in one of which the old man still lives." "Upon my word, I know nothing about it," said Zamenoy--"nothing, that is to say, in the way of business;" and the man of business laughed.
"Mind I do not at all deny that you did so--you or your father, or the two together.

Your people are getting into their hands lots of houses all over the town; but how they do it nobody knows.

They are not bought in fair open market." "This purchase was made by contract, and the price was paid in full before the houses were put into our hands." "They are not in your hands now, as far as I know." "Not the one, certainly, in which Balatka lives.

Motives of friendship--" "Friendship!" said Madame Zamenoy, with a sneer.
"And now motives of love," continued Anton, "have induced us to leave the use of that house with Josef Balatka." "Love!" said Madame Zamenoy, springing from her chair; love indeed! "Do not talk to me of love for a Jew." "My dear, my dear!" said her husband, expostulating.
"How dares he come here to talk of his love?
It is filthy--it is worse than filthy--it is profane." "I came here, madame," continued Anton, "not to talk of my love, but of certain documents or title-deeds respecting those houses, which should be at present in my father's custody.

I am told that your husband has them in his safe custody." "My husband has them not," said Madame Zamenoy.
"Stop, my dear--stop," said the husband.
"Not that he would be bound to give them up to you if he had got them, or that he would do so; but he has them not." "In whose hands are they then ?" "That is for you to find out, not for us to tell you." "Why should not all the world be told, so that the proper owner may have his own ?" "It is not always so easy to find out who is the proper owner," said Zamenoy the elder.
"You have seen this contract before, I think, said Trendellsohn, bringing forth a written paper.
"I will not look at it now at any rate.