His
massive face was gloomy as midnight, and the fiery blue eyes almost
closed. After awhile he growled: "But why--why?"
"Oh, I suppose because of the fifteen hundred marks for the families
of the dismissed workmen."
"Of course!" cried Schrotter, clapping his hand to his forehead.
"Dorfling's gold does not come from the Rhine for nothing," Wilhelm
smiled sadly. "Like the Nibleungen treasure, it is doomed to bring
disaster on all who possess it."
As Schrotter did not answer, Wilhelm resumed: "And as we are on the
subject, we may as well settle that matter at once. Of course you
will use the whole income now for your poor?"
"Not at all!" cried Schrotter. "Why should things not remain as they
are? Wherever you may take up your abode, the poor you have always
with you."
Wilhelm shook his head. "I may possibly go abroad, and you see, Herr
Doctor, I am prejudiced in favor of my own country. I think we shall
carry our Dorfling's intentions best by using his money for the
relief of German necessity."
Schrotter made no further objection. That Wilhelm would not, under
any circumstances, use a penny of the money for himself he knew
perfectly well, and in the end it was all the same whether the poor
received it from his hand or Wilhelm's.
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