"Be quick then. You will find Inspector Bräsig's brown mare in the stable; take it and ride as fast as you can to Kittendorf to the Herr Landrath von Uertzen--for it was there the Chasseurs came from yesterday, and they no doubt got the silver spoons there;--and then tell the Herr Landrath how things stand in Stemhagen, and ask him to send a trusty man back with you who can swear to the spoons. By that means he may, perhaps, be able to recover his property. And now, away with you. And, Fritz, put the horses to, quickly." They were all seated in the waggon in no time, except indeed the Bailiff, for his wife would not let him go: "You have nothing to do there; you can stop at home," she said. "Wife" said the Bailiff, placing one foot on the wheel and the other on the shaft, and looking down at her, "that's against our agreement; you are mistress in the house and I am master in my bailiff's duties; and to take charge of a prisoner is a bailiff's duty." And so saying he squeezed himself in between Friedrich and the Frenchman on one sack. "Now Fritz," he cried, "off with you." CHAPTER XVII. Proves that Friedrich was not really a thief; and relates how the Emperor Napoleon would have nothing to do with the Rathsherr; and how the Colonel had secrets with the Rathsherr. Before the Stemhagen Rathhaus, the waggon drew up, and, at one bound, my Father was down from his sack, and telling the others to stay in the waggon till he called them. As he came into the Hall, he was met by Marie Wienken with a light, for it had gradually got dark. Marie, who was our housemaid, on seeing my Father in Hans's jacket was very near letting the light fall, and was just going to scream, when he pushed her quickly into his room, and said "Hold your tongue, Marie! You are generally a sensible girl." Marie was really stupid; but nothing brightens stupid people more than to hear themselves called clever. "Is the Herr Amtshauptmann still here?" asked my Father. "Yes, Herr." "Then set down your light, and go into the room--don't let my wife suspect anything--and say to the Herr Amtshauptmann that there is some one outside who wishes to speak to him; and then bring him in here." She did so and the old Herr came in. "Good evening, my son, what is it you want, and what are you doing here in the Burmeister's room?" "Herr Amtshauptmann, what are my wife and children doing?" "What do I know of your wife and children, my lad?--You're young to have a wife and children." "A thousand devils!" cried my father; "don't you know me then? Why I'm the Burmeister." "What say you, eh?" cried the old Herr; "that's quite another thing. That's a very strange thing!--_Consul Stavenhageniensis_ in a boy's jacket! But what says Horace? _Nil admirari_--above all in these times, my friend." "My wife, Herr Amtshauptmann?" "She knows you are free and will be delighted to see you back." "But?"----