let me reckon--the old trader has not forgotten his skill on his sick-
bed--we have one thousand eight hundred and forty and six sequins; and
that is a vast ransom still such as is never paid but for lords of the
highest degree. Four and twenty thousand sequins!" And again he laughed
aloud. "It is easily spoken, children, but you cannot even guess what it
would mean. Believe me when I tell you that many a well-to-do merchant
in Nuremberg, who is at the head of a fine trade, would be at his wits'
end if he were desired to pay down half of your four and twenty thousand
sequins in hard coin!"

Then I took up my parable and told him how Eppelein had stamped the sum
on his mind, and that he for certain was in the right, both as to the sum
and as to the Venice sequins, forasmuch as that Herdegen, to the end that
he might know it rightly, had told him that they should be ducats such as
he had three in a red stuff wrapper, and Kunz and I likewise each two, in
our money-boxes as christening-gifts.

Now while I thus spoke the old man was sorely troubled, and his wax-white
face turned paler at each word. He raised himself up, leaning on the
arms of the great chair, so high that we were filled with amazement, and
he gazed about him with his glassy eyes and then said, still holding
himself up: "That, that.... And yesterday, only yesterday.... The
captive himself.... Four and twenty thousand sequins, do you say?....
and I--oh, what were my words?.... But what old Im Hoff promises that he
will do.... And yet.... If you maids had but been duteous children, if
you had but come to me first, as trustful daughters.... Only yesterday I
might--Yes, perchance I might...." And then he stormed forth: "But who
is there indeed to care for me? Who ever comes nigh me with true love
and honest trustfulness? Not one, no, not one!.... Ursula--the lad whom
from an infant--and you--both of you, what have you done?.... Yesterday,