Part 10 (1/2)

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 ladys.h.i.+p, 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 ladys.h.i.+p, seem to be very compa.s.sionate.

MIN.

In truth, sir, that was not well done. You ought rather to have refused us.

LAND.

Why so, your ladys.h.i.+p, why so?

MIN.

I understand that the officer who was driven out on our account!!!!!

LAND.

Is only a discharged officer, your ladys.h.i.+p.

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 ladys.h.i.+p, you understand about jewels, I suppose?