The worthy Pinkus was speaking, but very low, and Veitel could make little of it.

At last, however, the voices grew louder.
"How can you ask such a large sum!" cried Ehrenthal, angrily; "I have been mistaken in thinking you a trustworthy man." "I am trustworthy," replied Pinkus; "but I must have four hundred dollars, or this affair will fall through." "How dare you say it will fall through?
What do you know about it ?" "I know this much, that I can get four hundred dollars from the baron by telling him what I know," screamed Pinkus.
"You are a rascal! You are a traitor! Do you know who it is that you use thus?
I can ruin your credit, and disgrace you in the eyes of all men of business." "And I can show the baron what sort of a man you are," cried Pinkus, with equal vehemence.
At this the door opened, and Veitel plunged into the shadow of the staircase.
"I will give you till to-morrow to consider," were Pinkus's parting words.
Veitel coolly stepped into the office, and his patron hardly noticed him.

He was pacing up and down the little room, like a wild beast in its cage, and exclaiming, "Just heavens! that this Pinkus should turn out such a traitor! He will blab the whole matter; he will ruin me!" "Why should he ruin you ?" asked Veitel, throwing his hat on the desk.
"What are you doing here?
What have you overheard ?" "Every thing," was the cool reply.

"You have both screamed so as to be heard all over the hall.

Why do you keep the affair a secret from me?
I could have compelled Loebel to give you better terms." Ehrenthal stared in utter amazement at the audacious youth, and could only bring out, "What does this mean ?" "I know Pinkus well," continued Veitel, determined henceforth to take a part in the game.