The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Xii Part 31

ADELAIDE.

Listen! This night I read in the stars that you were to become Mrs.

Member-of-Parliament. A big star fell from heaven, and on it was written in legible letters: "Beyond peradventure she shall have him!"

The fulfilment has attached to it but one condition.

IDA.

What condition? Tell me!

ADELAIDE.

I recently told you of a certain lady and an unknown gentleman. You remember?

IDA.

I have thought of it incessantly.

ADELAIDE.

Good! On the same day on which this lady finds her knight again shall you also be reconciled with your professor--not sooner, not later.

Thus it is written.

IDA.

I am so glad to believe you. And when will the day come?

ADELAIDE.

Yes, dear, I do not know that exactly. But I will confide in you, since we girls are alone, that the said lady is heartily tired of the long hoping and waiting and will, I fear, do something desperate.

IDA (_embracing her_).

If only she will hurry up!

ADELAIDE (_holding her_).

Hush! Some man might hear us! [_Enter_ KORB.] What is it, old friend?

KORB.

Miss Adelaide, out there is Mr. Bellmaus, the friend--

ADELAIDE.

Very well, and he wishes to speak to me?

KORB.

Yes. I myself advised him to come to you; he has something to tell you.

ADELAIDE.

Bring him in here! [_Exit_ KORB.]

IDA.

Let me go away; my eyes are red with weeping.

ADELAIDE.

Well go, dear. In a few minutes I will rejoin you. (_Exit_ IDA.)

He too! The whole _Union_--one after the other!

_Enter_ BEULMAUS.

BELLMAUS (_shyly, bowing repeatedly_).

You permit me, Miss Runeck!

ADELAIDE (_kindly_).

I am glad to receive your visit, and am curious about the interesting disclosures you have to make to me.

BELLMAUS.

There is no one to whom I would rather confide what I have heard, Miss Runeck, than to you. Having learned from Mr. Korb that you are a subscriber to our newspaper I feel sure--

ADELAIDE.

That I deserve, too, to be a friend of the editors. Thank you for the good opinion.

BELLMAUS.

There is this man Schmock! He is a poor fellow who has been little in good society and was until now on the staff of the _Coriola.n.u.s_.

ADELAIDE. I remember having seen him.

BELLMAUS.

At Bolz's request I gave him a few gla.s.ses of punch. He thereupon grew jolly and told me of a great plot that Senden and the editor of the _Coriola.n.u.s_ have hatched between them. These two gentlemen, so he a.s.sures me, had planned to discredit Professor Oldendorf in the Colonel's eyes and so drove the Colonel into writing articles for the _Coriola.n.u.s_.

ADELAIDE.

But is the young man who made you these revelations at all trustworthy?

BELLMAUS.

He can't stand much punch, and after three gla.s.ses he told me all this of his own accord. In general I don't consider him very reputable. I should call him a good fellow, but reputable--no, he's not quite that.