"_Eh bien_; then announce to me your fatal tale in the fewest possible words." The voices of the speakers became lower, but not so low that Oswald could not hear every word distinctly. He deplored his position, which compelled him to listen, but he saw no chance of escaping. As Oldenburg had recognized Emily von Breesen, he would have compromised her honor if he had shown himself now. He tried to open the window, in order to escape by a bold leap over the gooseberry bushes, which were right underneath, into the garden, and from there through the open door back again into the ball-room; but he abandoned the plan as too hazardous, and tried to reconcile himself as well as he could, though not without secretly cursing his evil star, to his half-ludicrous, half-painful situation. "Oldenburg," said Barnewitz, "did Cloten ask you to let him sit by my wife, or was it a notion of your own?" "Why do you ask that curious question?" "Never mind. Just answer." "Not before I know what you are aiming at." "I want an answer and no subterfuge," said the furious nobleman. "Your threats do not terrify me, Cassius," replied Oldenburg, in a tone, the royal dignity of which contrasted strongly with the hoarse, passionate voice of the other. "I tell you once more, Barnewitz, either you tell me what you mean by that question, or I refuse to answer." "Well then, the thing is briefly this: Cloten is in love with Hortense!" "Oh! and _vice versâ_: is your wife in love with this lovely youth?" "I wish he were where the pepper grows!" "A very charitable wish, in which I join you with all my heart. Since when has this comedy been played?" "Since our return from Italy." "And what evidences have you?" "A thousand!" "And what do you mean to do?" "Great Heavens! Oldenburg. You ask me as if I had been playing whist! I want to kill the rascal; I want to drive him from my place here with the whip!" "_Bon!_ And will you mention one of the thousand proofs?" "Well, I should think to-night had given proof enough. First, she lets him take her to table; then she coquets with him in the most impudent manner----" "Stop! Who told you all that?" "Young Grieben." "Then tell young Grieben that he might employ his sparrow-brains for a better purpose than to invent such foolish stories, and to report them to you. I sat nearer than he, and I am sure I observe as well as he, and I tell you that your wife and Cloten have behaved just as well at table, as,--well, as you can expect from a nobleman and a lady. And then, please consider that the whole arrangement was only a notion, and, as I now see, a bad notion of mine." "I can rely upon that, Oldenburg?" "I generally mean what I say." "But it is nevertheless true," screamed Barnewitz. "My dear friend, I have no opinion about that, and you would oblige me very much indeed if you would leave me out of the matter entirely. But if you want my friendly advice, I am quite at your service." "What ought I to do?"