Hard days came for Apollonius.  His old father must as yet know nothing, and, if it were possible to uphold his honor, should never learn that it had tottered.  In his treatment of his brother Apollonius required all his firmness and all his gentleness.

After having found out who the creditors were and what the various sums amounted to, Apollonius examined the condition of the business and found it even more confused than he had feared.  The books were in disorder; for some time no more entries had been made at all.  Letters from customers were found complaining of the poor quality of the material delivered and of carelessness in the execution of their orders; others, with bills inclosed, were from the owner of the quarry who did not want to take any new orders on credit until the old ones were paid.  The greater part of Christiane’s fortune was gone; Apollonius had to force his brother to produce the remains of it.  He was obliged to threaten him with court proceedings.  What did not Apollonius, with his punctilious love of order, suffer in the midst of such confusion!  What did he not go through, with his intense love of his family, in having to act thus toward his brother!  And yet the latter saw in every utterance, every act of this man who was suffering so, only badly concealed triumph.  After infinite pains Apollonius succeeded in getting a comprehensive survey of the state of affairs.  If the creditors could be persuaded to have patience and the customers who had transferred their business could be won back again, it would be possible, with strict economy, industry and conscientiousness, to save the honor of the house; and, by untiring effort, he might succeed in assuring to his brother’s children at least an unincumbered business as their inheritance.

Apollonius wrote at once to the customers and then went to his brother’s creditors.  The former agreed to give the house another trial.  Among the latter he had the pleasure of learning what confidence he had already won in his home town.  In every case if he would stand security the creditor was willing to allow the sum owing to remain as a loan, at low interest, to be gradually paid off.  Some of them even wanted to intrust him with cash in addition.  He did not attempt to test the sincerity of these offers by accepting them, and thus only added to the confidence that those who made them felt in him.  Then he modestly and gently explained to his brother what he had done and still wanted to do.  Reproaches could not do any good, and he thought that admonitions were superfluous where the necessity was so plain.  If from now on Apollonius, acting alone and independently, took over the management of the whole, of the business and of the household, his brother surely could not see in his conduct any voluntary derogation.  In a matter in which he had staked his honor he must have a free hand.