“And yet,” said he, “it is for such trumperies men sacrifice their lives, sometimes their characters.”

The old Count colored slightly as he gave a glance at the riband and star which he wore.  Men did sometimes say that the Grand Master had not obtained all his honors without sundry sacrifices of one kind and another.  Dumiger had not intended any allusion to these rumors, and he was surprised at the Count’s change of color, for which, at the moment, he was unable to assign a reason.

“Well,” said the Count hesitatingly, “as you say you prefer Marguerite’s love even to your ambition, let us suppose, that in one moment you were able to attain certain wealth, to place her in a position worthy of her high qualities, to be at once on an equality with those of her fellow-citizens, who have hitherto—­pardon me the word—­treated her as an inferior; let us suppose that by some extraordinary powers all this could be immediately realized;—­then let me ask you, would you sacrifice your clock?”

Dumiger marveled as he listened.  He pictured Marguerite adorned with all those incidents which lend a new charm even to beauty like hers.  He thought, with that vanity which clings to all men,—­he thought if she were so much admired in her rustic dress, what would she be if she could rival in luxury and grace the chief ladies of Dantzic?  He looked round the room; and instead of the rudely-carved, worn-out chairs, he pictured the most graceful and luxurious sofas; instead of two small, and, in spite of all Marguerite’s taste and exertion, rather dusty and ungraceful-looking rooms, a suite of magnificent apartments, where he could gratify every taste and find people willing to come and applaud it.  All this passed through his mind, and he did not perceive how curiously the Count was regarding him; but at last Dumiger was recalled to himself, and he thought how little occasion there was for him to draw such pictures, as they could never be realized; and why should he annoy himself by considering this proposition, which could only be made to him in joke.

“But why,” he said to the count, “do you make me such a suggestion, when I can never hope to obtain this?”

The Count paused a moment, as though to examine Dumiger’s countenance still more attentively, and then said,—­

“You shall obtain this wealth, and much more.”

“I!” exclaimed Dumiger, with astonishment.

“Yes,” said the Count; “at a great price, I know; at a price, however, which I think you will still be willing to pay for it—­for your clock.”

“My clock worth that!” said Dumiger, “who will give it to me?”

It was the first time that Dumiger had tested, by the opinion of another, the value of the great work which he had achieved, and it gratified him to hear the magnificent offer.

“I,” said the Count, “I will give you all that I have said; nay, more, I will use all my influence to have you placed high on the great book of the citizens.  You shall have everything to make life happy.  Give me the clock; sign me a paper, making over this clock to me; declaring, at the same time, that it is your free act and deed, and that you never completed it, and I will immediately settle that fortune upon you.”