But he looked as though
he thought that his life were in danger among us."
"But, Anton, what had he to say?"
"I will tell you. He wanted to buy me off."
"Buy you off!"
"Yes; to bribe me to give you up. Aunt Sophie does not relish the idea
of having a Jew for her nephew."
"Aunt Sophie!--but I will never call her Aunt Sophie again. Do you mean
that they offered you money?"
"They offered me property, my dear, which is the same. But they did it
economically, for they only offered me my own. They were kind enough to
suggest that if I would merely break my word to you, they would tell me
how I could get the title-deeds of the houses, and thus have the power
of turning your father out into the street."
"You have the power. He would go at once if you bade him."
"I do not wish him to go. As I have told you often, he is welcome to
the use of the house. He shall have it for his life, as far as I am
concerned. But I should like to have what is my own."
"And what did you say?" Nina, as she asked the question, was very
careful not to tighten her hold upon his arm by the weight of a single
ounce.
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