"There is a pen,Minna.Sit down by me,and write what I tell you."The ink-bottle had been replenished by the person charged with that duty;and he had filled it a little too full.In a hurry to write the first words dictated,Minna dipped her pen too deeply in the bottle.On withdrawing it she not only blotted the paper but scattered some of the superfluous ink over the sleeve of Mrs.Wagner's dress."Oh,how awkward I am!"she exclaimed."Excuse me for one minute.Mamma has got something in her dressing-case which will take out the marks directly."She ran upstairs,and returned with the powder which her mother had used,in erasing the first sentences on the label attached to the blue-glass bottle.Mrs.Wagner looked at the printed instructions on the little paper box,when the stains had been removed from her dress,with some curiosity."Macula Exstinctor,"she read,"or Destroyer of Stains.
Partially dissolve the powder in a teaspoonful of water;rub it well over the place,and the stain will disappear,without taking out the color of the dress.This extraordinary specific may also be used for erasing written characters without in any way injuring the paper,otherwise than by leaving a slight shine on the surface.""Is this to be got in Frankfort?"asked Mrs.Wagner."I only know lemon-juice as a remedy against ink-marks,when I get them on my dress or my fingers.""Keep it,dear Mrs.Wagner.I can easily buy another box for mamma where we got this one,at a chemist's in the Zeil.See how easily I can take off the blot that I dropped on the paper!Unless you look very close,you can hardly see the shine--and the ink has completely disappeared.""Thank you,my dear.But your mother might meet with some little accident,and might want your wonderful powder when I am out of the way.
Take it back when we have done our letter.And we will go to the chemist together and buy another box in a day or two."On the thirtieth of December,after dinner,Mr.Keller proposed a toast--"Success to the adjourned wedding-day!"There was a general effort to be cheerful,which was not rewarded by success.Nobody knew why;but the fact remained that nobody was really merry.
On the thirty-first,there was more hard work at the office.The last day of the old year was the day on which the balance was struck.
Towards noon,Mr.Keller appeared in Mrs.Wagner's office,and opened the safe.
"We must see about the Reserve Fund,"he said;"I will count the money,if you will open the ledger and see that the entry is right.I don't know what you think,but my idea is that we keep too much money lying idle in these prosperous times.What do you say to using half of the customary fund for investment?By the by,our day for dividing the profits is not your day in London.When my father founded this business,the sixth of January was the chosen date--being one way,among others,of celebrating his birthday.We have kept to the old custom,out of regard for his memory;and your worthy husband entirely approved of our conduct.I am sure you agree with him?""With all my heart,"said Mrs.Wagner."Whatever my good husband thought,I think."Mr.Keller proceeded to count the Fund."Fifteen thousand florins,"he announced."I thought it had been more than that.If poor dear Engelman had been here--Never mind!What does the ledger say?""Fifteen thousand florins,"Mrs.Wagner answered.
"Ah,very well,my memory must have deceived me.This used to be Engelman's business;and you are as careful as he was--I can say no more."Mr.Keller replaced the money in the safe,and hastened back to his own office.
Mrs.Wagner raised one side of the ledger off the desk to close the book--stopped to think--and laid it back again.
The extraordinary accuracy of Mr.Keller's memory was proverbial in the office.Remembering the compliment which he had paid to her sense of responsibility as Mr.Engelman's successor,Mrs.Wagner was not quite satisfied to take it for granted that he had made a mistake--even on the plain evidence of the ledger.A reference to the duplicate entry,in her private account-book,would at once remove even the shadow of a doubt.
The last day of the old year was bright and frosty;the clear midday light fell on the open page before her.She looked again at the entry,thus recorded in figures--"15,000florins"--and observed a trifling circumstance which had previously escaped her.
The strokes which represented the figures "15"were unquestionably a little,a very little,thicker than the strokes which represented the three zeros or "noughts"that followed.Had a hair got into the pen of the head-clerk,who had made the entry?or was there some trifling defect in the paper,at that particular part of the page?
She once more raised one side of the ledger so that the light fell at an angle on the writing.There was a difference between that part of the paper on which the figures "15"were written,and the rest of the page--and the difference consisted in a slight shine on the surface.
The side of the ledger dropped from her hand on the desk.She left the office,and ran upstairs to her own room.Her private account-book had not been wanted lately--it was locked up in her dressing-case.She took it out,and referred to it.There was the entry as she had copied it,and compared it with the ledger--"20,000florins.""Madame Fontaine!"she said to herself in a whisper.
CHAPTER XI
The New Year had come.
On the morning of the second of January,Mrs.Wagner (on her way to the office at the customary hour)was stopped at the lower flight of stairs by Madame Fontaine--evidently waiting with a purpose.