old fritz and the new era-第51部分

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night；　and　tell　you　every　thing　that　she　says　and　does。　But　I　must
have　five　hundred　in　cash！〃

Ebenstreit　turned　his　dull…blue　eyes　to　Frau　von　Werrig　with　a
triumphant　smile。　〃Did　you　not　tell　me　the　old　woman　could　not　be
bought？　I　knew　that　I　was　right。　You　did　not　offer　her　money　enough；
she　will　sell　herself　dear　as　possible。〃

〃Yes；　as　dear　as　she　can；〃　laughed　Trude〃five　hundred　is　my
price。〃

〃You　shall　have　it　in　cash　in　an　hour；〃　said　Ebenstreit；　in　a
friendly　manner。

〃So　much　money；〃　whined　the　general；　〃it　would　have　saved　me　if　I
had　had　it　that　last　time。〃

〃My　son…in…law；　I　must　confess　you　are　exceedingly　generous；〃
remarked　the　mother。

〃No　sum　would　be　too　great　to　assure　me　my　bride。　Go　now；　Trude；　you
shall　have　the　money　in　time。Will　you　allow　me；　father；　to　send
your　servant　to　my　office　for　it？〃

〃Send　Leberecht　here；　Trude！〃

The　old　woman　hurried　out　of　the　room；　but　the　door　once　closed；　her
manner　changed。　One　might　have　supposed　a　sudden　cramp　had　seized
her；　from　her　distorted　face；　and　twitching　and　panting；　and　beating
the　air　with　her　clinched　fists；　and　her　quivering　lips　uttering
broken　words。

Approaching　footsteps　warned　her　to　assume　her　general　manner　and
expression；　and　cease　her　manipulations。　〃The　ladies　and　gentlemen
wish　you　in　the　parlor；〃　mumbled　Trude　to　the　servant　descending　the
stairs。　〃But　where　have　you　been；　and　what　have　you　to　do　up　there？〃

〃I　was　looking　for　you；　lovely　onenothing　more！〃

〃Well；　now　you　have　found　me；　tell　me　what　you　want？　I　know　you　were
sneaking　about；　listening；　because　you　thought　I　was　with　Marie。　I
understand　you　better　than　you　think　I　do。　I　have　found　many　a
viper；　and　I　am　familiar　with　their　aspect。　Go！　they　are　waiting　for
you；　and　let　me　find　you　again　spying　about；　and　I　will　throw　a　pail
of　water　on　you！〃

With　this　friendly　assurance　Trude　dismissed　Leberecht；　and　hastened
with　youthful　activity　to　the　little　garret…room；　when　Marie　fell
upon　her　neck；　weeping　bitterly。

〃Calm　yourselfdo　not　weep　soit　breaks　my　heart；　my　dear　child。〃

〃And　mine　cannot　break。　I　must　endure　all　this　anguish　and　survive
this　shame。　Help　me；　my　good　mother；　stand　by　me！　It　is　impossible
for　me　to　marry　that　dreadful　man。　I　have　sworn　constancy　to　my
beloved　Moritz；　and　I　must　be　firm；　or　die！〃

〃Die？　then　you　will　kill　me！〃　murmured　the　old　one；　〃for；　if　you　go；
I　must　go　also。　But　we　will　not　give　up　yet；　as　we　are　both　living；
we　will　not　despair　for　life。　I　am　going　once　more　to　Moritz's
lodgings；　it　may　be　he　has　returned；　and　will　rescue　you。〃

〃Oh；　do；　good　Trude；　tell　him　that　I　have　courage　and　determination
to　risk　and　bear　every　thingthat　I　will　await　him；　that　nothing
would　be　too　difficult　or　dangerous　to　serve　to　unite　me　to　him！
Tell　him　that　I　prefer　a　life　of　poverty　and　want　by　his　side；　to
abundance　and　riches　in　a　splendid　palace　with　that　detested
creaturebut　no；　say　nothing　about　it；　he　knows　it　well！　If　he　has
returned；　tell　him　all　that　has　happened；　and　that　I　am　resolved　to
brave　the　utmost；　to　save　myself！〃

〃I　will　go；　dear　child；　but　I　have　first　my　work　to　do；　and　enough
of　it　toobut　listen　to　what　they　have　made　me　become。〃　Hastily；　in
a　low　voice；　she　related　to　Marie　the　story　of　her　corruption；
excited　as　before；　her　limbs　shaking　and　her　fists　clinched。　〃They
say　we　old　women　resemble　cats；　but　from　to…day　forth　I　know　that　is
a　shameful　lie！　If　I　had　possessed　their　nature　and　claws；　I　should
have　sprung　at　the　throat　of　this　rascal；　and　torn　out　his　windpipe；
but；　instead　of　that；　I　stood　as　if　delighted　with　his　degrading
proposal！　Oh；　fie！　the　good…for…nothing　kidnapper　would　tempt　a　poor
creature！　Let　us　wait；　they　will　get　their　reward。　He　shall　pay　me
the　five　hundred　thalers；　and　then　this　trader　of　hearts　shall
recognize　that；　however　much　ill…earned　money　he　may　throw　away；
love　and　constancy　are　hot　to　be　bought。　We　will　teach　him　a
lesson；〃　and　with　this；　the　old　servant　ceased；　gasping　for　breath。

〃Go　now；　Trude；　and　learn　if　he　has　returned；　upon　him　depends　my
happiness；　and　life　evenhe　is　my　last　hope！〃

〃I　am　going；　but　first　I　would　get　the　wages　of　my　sin；　and　play　the
hypocrite；　and　tell　a　few　untruths；　then　I　will　go　to　Moritz's
lodgings；　and　the　baker　also。　Do　not　despair；　I　have　a　joyful
presentiment　that　God　will　have　pity　upon　us　and　send　us　aid。〃　Trude
kissed　and　embraced　her　child；　and　scarcely　waited　an　hour；　when　she
was　demanded　in　the　parlor　to　receive　her　money。

Herr　Ebenstreit　was　heartily　delighted　with　her　zealous　impatience；
and　handed　her　ten　rolls　of　gold；　reminding　her　of　the　conditions。

〃I　have　already　consoled　her　a　little；　and　she　begins　to　change。　I
hope　every　thing　will　turn　for　good。　Just　leave　her　alone　with　me。〃

〃But　first；　I　must　go　and　see　my　aged　brother；　who　will　take　care　of
my　money；〃　replied　Trude。　〃He　is　a　safe　man　and　will　not　spend　it。〃

〃Trude；〃　cried　the　general；　〃what　an　old　fool！　to　seek　at　distance
what　is　so　near　you。　I　will　take　your　money；　and　give　you　interest。
Do　you　hear？　I　will　take　care　of　it！〃

〃Thank　you；　general；　I'd　rather　give　it　to　my　brother；　on　account　of
the　relationship。〃　She　slipped　out　of　the　room；　hid　the　money　in　her
bed；　and　hurriedly　left　the　house。

Scarcely　an　hour　passed　ere　Trude　returned　as　fleetly　as　she　went。
She　cast　only　a　look　into　the　kitchen；　and　hastened　up　to　Marie's
room。　Her　success　was　evident　in　her　happy；　smiling　face；　and　coming
home　she　had　repeated　to　herself；　〃How　happy　Marie　will　be！〃　almost
the　entire　way。

She　had　but　closed　the　door；　when　the　mean　little　Leberecht　glided
from　behind　the　chimney；　and　crept　to　listen　at　the　door。

Within　was　a　lively　conversation；　and　twice　a　shout　of　joy　was　heard
and　Marie；　exultant；　cried；　〃Oh；　Trude！　dear　Trude！　all　goes　well；　I
fear　nothing　now。　God　has　sent　me　the　savior　which　I　implored！〃

Leberecht　stood；　bent　over；　applying　his　ear　to　the　keyhole；
listening　to　every　word。

Oh；　Trude！　if　you　could　only　have　seen　the　traitor；　glued　to　the
door；　with　open　eyes　and　mouth！　Could　you　have　seen　the　eavesdropper
rubbing　his　hands　together；　grinning；　and　listening　in　breathless
suspense！

Why　cannot　you　surprise　him；　Trude；　and　fulfil　your　threat　to　deluge
him　and　chase　him　away　from　your　child's　door？　They　forgot　the
necessity　of　prudence；　and　the　possibility　of　being　overheard。　At
last　it　occurred　to　the　old　servant；　and　she　tore　open　the　door；　but
no　one　was　thereit　was　deserted　and　still。

〃God　be　thanked；　no　one　has　listened；〃　whispered　Trude。　〃I　will　go
down　and　tell　them　that　I　hope；　if　we　can　stay　alone　all　day；　you
will　be　calmer　and　more　reasonable。〃

〃Do　it；　Trude；　I　do　not　dare　to　see　any　one　for　fear　my　face　will
betray　me；　and　my　mother　has　very　sharp　eyes。　Return　soon。〃

She　opened　the　door；　and　saw　not　the　eavesdropper　and　spy；　who　had
but　just　time　to　conceal　himself；　and　stand　maliciously　grinning　at
the　retreating　figure　of　the　faithful　servant。

He　slipped　lightly　from　his　hiding…place　down　to　his　sleeping…room；
in　a　niche　under　the　stairs。　For　a　long　time　he　reflected；　upon　his
bedsidehis　watery　blue　eyes　staring　at　nothing。　〃This　must　be　well
considered；〃　he　mumbled。　〃There　is；　at　last；　a　capital　to　be　won。
Which　shall　I　do　first；　to　grasp　a　good　deal？　Shall　I　wait；　or　go　at
once　to　Herr　Ebenstreit？　Very　naturally　they　would　both　deny　it；　and
say　that　I　had　made　up　the　whole　story　to　gain　money。　I　had　better
let　the　affair　go　on：　they　can　take　a　short　drive；　and　when　they　are
about　an　hour　absent；　I　will　sell　my　secret　at　a　higher　price。　Now　I
will　pretend　to　be　quite　harmless；　and　after　supper　let　the　bomb
burst！〃




CHAPTER　XXV。

THE　ELOPEMENT。


Evening　had　set　in。　The　card…table　had　been　arranged；　and　Leberecht
had　rolled　his　master　to　it；　taking　his　place　behind　his　chair。　The
hour　of　whist　the　general　impatiently　awaited　the　entire　day；　and　it
was　regularly　observed。　Even　in　the　contract　with　his　adopted　son　it
had　been　expressly　mentioned　as　a　duty；　that　he　should　not　only
secure　to　them　yearly　income；　but　also　devote　an　hour　to　cards　every
evening。

Herr　Ebenstreit　regarded　it　as　a　tax；　which　he　must　observe　until
married。　The　general　was　much　his　superior　at　cards；　and；　moreover；
played　the　dummy；　and　the　stake　being　high；　it　was　quite　an　income
for　the　future　father…in…law；　and　regarded　by　him　as　the　one　bright
spot　in　his　daily　life。

The　cards　had　been　dealt；　and　Leberecht　had　assorted　the　general's；
and　placed　them　in　his　gouty　hand；　when　Trude　entered；　exultingly。

〃What　has　happened？　What　makes　you　interrupt　us？〃　cried　the　general。
〃Did　you　not　remember　that　I　have　told　you　always　not　to　disturb　us
at　this　hour。〃

〃Yes；　general；　but　I　thought　good　news　was　never　amiss。〃

〃What　have　you　pleasant　to　tell　us？〃　harshly　demanded　Frau　von
Werrig。

〃My　young　lady's　compliments；〃　cried　Trude；　triumphantly；　〃she
begins　to　see　that　she　must　yield　to　her　fate；　and　that　it　will　do
no　good　to　resist　any　longer。　She　will　be　ready　for　the　ceremony　at
eleven　o'clock　to…morrow　morning。〃

The　general　uttered　a　cry　of　joy；　and　struck　the　table　so　violently；
with　his　hand；　that　the　cards　were　thrown　together。

His　wife　bowed　dignifiedly；　and　the　happy　bridegroom　gave　old　Trude
some　gold…pieces　upon　the　favorable　news。

〃Has　she；　then；　been　converted　by　your　persuasion？〃　he　asked。

〃Through　my　persuasion　and　her　own　good　sense。　She　understands　that；
if　she　cannot　marry　her　dear　Moritz；　Herr　Ebenstreit　is　the　most　fit
husband；　because　he　loves　her；　and　is　so　generous　to　her　old
parents。　One　thing　she　would　like　an　answer　tocan　I　accompany　her
to　her　new　home？〃

〃Yes；　old　woman；　it　will　be　very　agreeable　to　have　so　sensible　a
person；〃　said　Ebenstreit。　〃Tell　Marie　that　it　gives　me　pleasure　to
fulfil　her　wish。〃

〃In　that　case　I　would　repeat　that　Fraulein　begs　for　indulgence　and
forbearance　until　to…morrow；　and　would　like　to　remain　alone　to
compose　herself。〃

〃I　do　not　wish；　in　the　least；　to　see　her；〃　said　her　mother；　〃she　can
do　what　she　likes　until　then。〃

〃I　will　tell　Marie；　and　she　will　rejoice；〃　cried　Trude。

〃Tell　her；　from　her　father；　that　it　is　very