Schrotter did not answer, and seated himself on the divan.  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.  He merely wrote down some addresses which Wilhelm gave him of people to whom he gave regular assistance, and whom he recommended to Schrotter to that end.

When toward evening Wilhelm returned home, and, as was inevitable, told Frau Muller the news, she nearly fainted, and had to sit down.  She was struck dumb for some time, and then only found strength to utter low groans.  Her lodger turned out of Berlin like a vagrant.  A householder too!  Such a respectable, fine young gentleman, whom she had watched over like the apple of her eye for seven years—­ dreadful—­dreadful.  But it was all the fault of the low wretches who had forced their way in last week.  She had thought as much at the time.  If she had only called in the police at once!  The police—­oh yes, she had all due respect for the police, she was the widow of a government official, and she loved her good old king certainly—­but that they should have banished the Herr Doctor—­that was not right—­ that could not possibly be right!  Frau Muller could not reconcile herself to the thought of parting.  She would go to her friend and patron the “Geheimer Oberpostrath,” and he would use his influence in the matter; and at last, seeing that Wilhem only smiled or spoke a few soothing words to her, she burst into tears and sobbed out:  “I am so used to you, Herr Doctor, I don’t know how I am going to live without you.”  She only composed herself a little when Wilhelm told her that, for the present at any rate, he was going to leave his books and other goods and chattels where they were, for he might perhaps be allowed to return after a time, and meanwhile a young man, whom she knew, and who was studying at Wilhelm’s at Schrotter’s expense, should board and lodge with her, and she would receive the same sum as Wilhelm had always paid.