Zetto. He drew forth his pocket-book, and took from it a small,
folded paper, which he handed to Weingarten.

"If I strengthen my declaration with this paper, will you trust me?"

Weingarten looked with joyful astonishment at the paper; it was a
check for two thousand guilders. "My sister's dowry," thought
Weingarten, with joy. But the next moment came doubt and suspicion.
What if they were only trying him--only convincing themselves if he
could be bought? Perhaps he was suspected of supplying the Prussian
Government from time to time with Austrian news--of communicating to
them the contents of important dispatches!

The fire faded from his eye, and with a firm countenance he laid the
paper upon the table.

"Your are mistaken, gentlemen! That is no document, but a check."

"With which many documents could be purchased," said Zetto, smiling.
Placing the paper again in his pocket-book, he took out another and
a larger one. It was a check for three thousand guilders.

But Weingarten had regained his composure. He knew that men acting
thus must be spies or criminals; that they were testing him, or
luring him on to some unworthy act. In either case, he must be on
his guard.

"I beg you to confirm your charge in the usual manner," said he,
with a cold, indifferent glance at the paper. "Murder is a dreadful
accusation--you cannot act too carefully. You say that an Austrian