Bernick: You can well imagine how every kind of rumour was set on
foot after you and he had gone. People began to say that it was
not his first piece of folly--that Dorf had received a large sum
of money to hold his tongue and go away; other people said that
she had received it. At the same time it was obvious that our
house was finding it difficult to meet its obligations. What was
more natural than that scandal-mongers should find some
connection between these two rumours? And as the woman remained
here, living in poverty, people declared that he had taken the
money with him to America; and every time rumour mentioned the
sum, it grew larger.

Lona: And you, Karsten--?

Bernick: I grasped at the rumour like a drowning man at a straw.

Lona: You helped to spread it?

Bernick: I did not contradict it. Our creditors had begun to be
pressing, and I had the task of keeping them quiet. The result
was the dissipating of any suspicion as to the stability of the
firm; people said that we had been hit by a temporary piece of
ill-luck--that all that was necessary was that they should not
press us--only give us time and every creditor would be paid in
full.

Lona: And every creditor was paid in full?

Bernick: Yes, Lona, that rumour saved our house and made me the