Suppose you postpone the whole affair till my uncle's arrival. I told you yesterday why he did not come with me. He had an accident with his carriage ten miles from here, and did not wish that I should remain a night longer on the road, so I had to come on. I am sure he will not be more than four-and-twenty hours after us.
LAND.
Very well, madam, we will wait for him.
MIN.
He will be able to answer your questions better. He will know to whom, and to what extent, he must give an account of himself--what he must relate respecting his affairs, and what he may withhold.
LAND.
So much the better! Indeed one cannot expect a young girl (looking at Franziska in a marked manner)to treat a serious matter with serious people in a serious manner.
MIN.
And his rooms are in readiness, I hope?
LAND.
Quite, your ladyship, quite; except the one--FRAN.
Out of which, I suppose, you will have to turn some other honourable gentleman!
LAND.
The waiting maids of Saxony, your ladyship, seem to be very compassionate.
MIN.
In truth, sir, that was not well done. You ought rather to have refused us.
LAND.
Why so, your ladyship, why so?
MIN.
I understand that the officer who was driven out on our account--LAND.
Is only a discharged officer, your ladyship.
MIN.
Well, what then?
LAND.
Who is almost done for.
MIN.
So much the worse! He is said to be a very deserving man.
LAND.
But I tell you he is discharged.
MIN.
The king cannot be acquainted with every deserving man.
LAND.
Oh! doubtless he knows them; he knows them all.
MIN.
But he cannot reward them all.
LAND.
They would have been rewarded if they had lived so as to deserve it.
But they lived during the war as if it would last for ever; as if the words "yours" and "mine" were done away with altogether. Now all the hotels and inns are full of them, and a landlord has to be on his guard with them. I have come off pretty well with this one. If he had no more money, he had at any rate money's worth; and I might indeed have let him remain quiet two or three months longer. However, it is better as it is. By-the-by, your ladyship, you understand about jewels, I suppose?
MIN.
Not particularly.
LAND.
Of course your ladyship must. I must show you a ring, a valuable ring.
I see you have a very beautiful one on your finger; and the more Ilook at it, the more I am astonished at the resemblance it bears to mine. There! just look, just look!
(Taking the ring from its case, and handing it to her.)What brilliancy! The diamond in the middle alone weighs more than five carats.
MIN. (looking at it).
Good heavens! What do I see? This ring
LAND.
Is honestly worth fifteen hundred thalers.
MIN.
Franziska! look!
LAND.
I did not hesitate for a moment to advance eighty pistoles on it.
MIN.
Do not you recognize it, Franziska?
FRAN.
The same! Where did you get that ring, Mr. Landlord?
LAND.
Come, my girl! you surely have no claim to it?
FRAN.
We have no claim to this ring! My mistress' monogram must be on it, on the inner side of the setting. Look at it, my lady.
MIN.
It is! it is! How did you get this ring?
LAND.
I! In the most honourable way in the world. You do not wish to bring me into disgrace and trouble, your ladyship! How do I know where the ring properly belongs? During the war many a thing often changed masters, both with and without the knowledge of its owner. War was war. Other rings will have crossed the borders of Saxony. Give it me again, your ladyship; give it me again!
FRAN.
When you have said from whom you got it.
LAND.
From a man whom I cannot think capable of such things; in other respects a good man.
MIN.
From the best man under the sun, if you have it from its owner. Bring him here directly! It is himself, or at any rate he must know him.
LAND.
Who? who, your ladyship?
FRAN.
Are you deaf? Our Major!
LAND.
Major! Right! he is a Major, who had this room before you, and from whom I received it.
MIN.
Major von Tellheim!
LAND.
Yes, Tellheim. Do you know him?
MIN.
Do I know him! He is here! Tellheim here! He had this room! He! he pledged this ring with you! What has brought him into this embarrassment? Where is he? Does he owe you anything? Franziska, my desk here! Open it!
(Franziska puts it on the table and opens it.)What does he owe you? To whom else does he owe anything? Bring me all his creditors! Here is gold: here are notes. It is all his!
LAND.
What is this?
MIN.
Where is he? Where is he?
LAND.
An hour ago he was here.
MIN.
Detested man! how could you act so rudely, so hardly, so cruelly towards him?
LAND.
Your ladyship must pardon
MIN.
Quick! Bring him to me.
LAND.
His servant is perhaps still here. Does your ladyship wish that he should look for him?
MIN.
Do I wish it? Begone, run. For this service alone I will forget how badly you have behaved to him.
FRAN.
Now then, quick, Mr. Landlord! Be off! fly! fly!
(Pushes him out.)
