“What way? what way? tell me quickly!” cried Dumiger, gasping with anxiety.

“Be still, young man, be still; we have plenty of time:  let’s proceed quietly,” said the stranger.

“Well, well, but be quick,” continued Dumiger, in anything but a quiet tone of voice.

“I have told you,” said the man, quietly readjusting his spectacles, which Dumiger had slightly disturbed by the violence with which he seized his arm, “I have told you that I am a native of Hambro’, a mechanician; that I have seen your clock, admired it, and taken the trouble to obtain a list of your liabilities,—­here it is again.”

Dumiger gave another groan.

“Your position,” continued the stranger, “appears to me to be this—­that without my assistance your clock will be worth nothing, while you will remain quietly in prison here, charged besides, as far as I can understand the matter, with some political offense; that Marguerite will either pine away or atone for your loss by amusing herself with some of your friends—­Carl and Krantz for instance.  You see I am au fait with all your domestic matters.”

Oh, jealousy! oh, cowardice of the heart!  At the name of Carl the blood flew to Dumiger’s temples.  It just occurred to him that it was strange that Marguerite should have gone to him for assistance without any direction from himself to do so.  Root out the feeling, Dumiger; root it out, or you are lost.

The stranger smiled sarcastically, but affected not to notice his flushed cheek and faltering voice.

“Now there is but one means to relieve yourself from all these risks and this load of misery.”

“Again I inquire, what is it?” said Dumiger.

“Sell me your clock:  I have come to purchase it on the part of the free city of Hamburgh,” was the calm, deliberate reply.

“Sell my clock!” echoed Dumiger.

“The city of Hamburgh,” continued the stranger, without appearing to remark Dumiger’s exclamation, “authorizes me to offer for the clock of best workmanship, the freedom of her walls, an income of four thousand dollars, a place in the chief council with due precedence, and many other minor advantages.  If you accept these terms a large installment of money will be paid within three days,—­that is, within the time for the return of post.  You will naturally inquire, Why the city of Hambro’ should make so extravagant an offer?  I will recall to you the extreme jealousy which has always existed between these two great commercial cities.  You will remember that this rivalry is unceasing—­that it comprehends all things, the smallest as well as the greatest.  They attempted to vie with each other in the construction of their doms:  Dantzic gained the advantage.  The fame and the prize given for excellence in these clocks, and of the unrivaled workmanship which may be expected, has spread throughout Germany.  The inhabitants of Hambro’ are inferior in science.  They wish to obtain a piece of workmanship which shall be unrivaled, in the easiest manner, and I was sent here to negotiate the purchase.  Well, I was selected by the Council here as one of the judges.  It is an act of treachery—­granted:  that cannot affect you.  All that there is for you to decide on are the terms I have offered you.”