Gotzkowsky answered ardently:  “If such do occur, the man of honor dies when he cannot fulfil his word.  But you—­you do not wish to die.  Oh no!  You wish to break your word in order to live pleasantly.  You wish to profit by your breach of promise.  You wish to declare yourselves insolvent and cheat your creditors of their money, and thereby amass wealth.”

A general storm of indignation interrupted Gotzkowsky, and the very men who had come for the purpose of making a formal demonstration of their gratitude now approached him with angry gestures and threatening words.

“A million and a half is no child’s play,” screamed Ephraim.  “Money is more precious than honor.”

“I say money is honor,” cried Itzig.  “As long as we keep our millions, we keep our honor.”

“You are very generous,” sneered Kretschmer.  “Like a gentleman, you pay your debts out of other people’s pockets, and the citizens will have to pay millions to enable you to keep your word.”

Gotzkowsky cast one look of contemptuous pity on him, and replied:  “You forget, sir, that I did not act in my own name, but in that of the magistracy and merchants of Berlin.  Not I alone would be faithless to my word, but the whole town of Berlin.”

“But I repeat,” said the chief burgomaster, “that the king has released us from the obligation of keeping our word.”

“No king can do that,” interrupted Gotzkowsky.  “A man of honor must keep his word, and no one, not even a king, can absolve him from it.”

“Let us not quarrel about matters of opinion,” said Kircheisen, shrugging his shoulders.  “My opinion is, that we do not pay this sum.”

“No, we will not pay it!” cried all in tumultuous excitement, as they surrounded the burgomaster, discussing in cheerful conversation the advantages of non-payment.

Gotzkowsky stood listening to them alone, unobserved, and forgotten.  His heart was heavy with sadness, and painfully did he reflect:  “This is the unholy influence of money, hardening the heart and silencing the voice of honor.  For a few millions of dollars do they sell their good name.  One final attempt let me make.  I will see what their cowardice will do.”

Again did he enter their midst, and with convincing words and ardent eloquence portray the danger which would ensue from the non-payment of the bonds.

The Russian was not very far from Berlin:  if he had retired in forced marches he could return thither with equal rapidity in order, in the wantonness of his wrath, to take vengeance on the faithless town.

“In an unlucky moment,” said he, “the Russians might gain a victory over our king.  He would then return and rend us like a tiger.  I would then no longer have the power of protecting you, for General Tottleben’s anger would be turned principally against me, who guaranteed the payment of the contribution.  God himself does not protect him who breaks his word.  He is an outlaw.”