“You tell me,” Becker asked, switching to his normal voice, “am I not within my rights? A person only gets one chance in life. And I’ve never had one! So now I have to take advantage of it.”

“You’re mad,” said Silbermann. “You sniveling swindler!”

“Shut up. If I were mean I could say: Jew! So, do you agree to the separation proposal? Because if you don’t, then I’ll go ahead and keep everything. Another person in my situation would certainly do that. But I’m just soft in the head.”

“You want to steal my money that I entrusted you with?”

“The payment is written out in my name.”

“I’m not talking about the payment, don’t play dumb. I trusted you, Gustav. And I still do. Enough of these bad jokes.”

“Jokes? I know how you can twist your tongue. That’s why you’re a Jew. But I’ve made up my mind and you’re not going to talk me out of it!”

“There are laws!”

Becker laughed scornfully. “If threats are what you want,” he said, “I’m in a far better position than you.”

“Gustav, it’s not the money I’m concerned about, well yes, I’m concerned about that as well, but there’s more at stake. Please believe me! I simply can’t bear to see a man like you become a miserable lowlife and blackmailer. There still have to be people who maintain their decency and humanity no matter what opportunities might come their way. Who don’t turn into swine just because they see a puddle they might wallow in.”

“I am a decent person,” Becker said without conviction. “On that point I insist.”

“Well, you were at one time. Tell me, do you find it easy to break your word?”

“What word? I don’t know anything about any word. Stop talking so much. Either accept my proposal or don’t.”

“I don’t! If someone robs you and then you agree to take back half of what he stole, that makes you an accomplice to the theft.”

Becker jumped up. “I’m warning you,” he growled, switching to the formal Sie. “That’s enough of all this wheeling and dealing!”

“I’ll get you sent to jail,” Silbermann declared. He was so agitated he was no longer weighing his words. “And I’ll tell everyone I know about your dirty extortion. I’ll denounce you to your party. I have no doubt that they’ll take the money away from you. Because when it comes to robbing Jews they claim exclusive rights. They don’t tolerate unfair competition. You’ll see who you’re dealing with yet, you disgraceful crook!”

“I’ve always known you were a low-down shyster,” Becker retorted. He had sat back down and was once again using the familiar Du. “Do you even know what you are? A nervous little Jew quivering over his money. If I were like you, I wouldn’t give you a penny, I’d simply have you sent straight to the concentration camp. Where you could denounce me as much as you like.”