And when Fritz had made ready, they sat down, and prepared to begin. They must first decide how high they would play. Kurz was for playing Boston grandissimo, for shilling points; but Kurz was always very venturesome; that was a little too high for the others, and Bräsig declared that he wouldn't sit down to play, to get people's money out of their pockets. At last, through Habermann's interposition, they settled what the game should be, and were ready to begin. "Who has diamonds?" asked the rector; "he deals." "Kurz deals," said Bräsig. So now they could finally begin; but they did not begin, quite yet, for the rector laid his hand on the cards, and said, looking around the circle, "It is worthy of note! We are all pretty reasonable men, and we are going to play a game, namely the game of cards, which, according to authentic information, was invented for the entertainment of an insane king. King Charles of France----" "Come, children," said Kurz, taking the cards out of the rector's, hand, "if we are going to play, let us play, if we are going to tell stories, we will tell stories." "Go ahead!" cried Bräsig, and Kurz dealt,--made a misdeal, however in his haste, so "Once more!" This time it was all right, and they began to look at their cards. "I pass," said Habermann, who had the lead. Then it came to the rector; they had to wait for him a little, because he had not yet arranged his cards, for he had a superstition that the cards were better if he took them up, one by one, and because he improved all his opportunities with great conscientiousness he arranged all his cards in order of rank and turned the sevens and fives so that he could see the middle spot, and not mistake them for the sixes and the fours. Kurz, meanwhile, laid his cards on the table, folded his hands over them, looked at him and sighed. "I pass," said the rector. "I knew you would," said Kurz, for he knew that his brother-in-law must examine his cards closely, before he would commit himself, and, on the other hand, he was afraid of his assisting, because usually he either had nothing, or if he had something, he played it the wrong time. "Pass!" said Bräsig, whose turn came next. "Boston grandissimo!" said Kurz. "Who assists?" "Pass!" said Habermann. "Dear brother-in-law," said the rector, "I--one trick--two tricks--well I shall find a third--I assist." "Well," said Kurz, "but we don't pay together. Each pays for himself." "Come, Karl," said Bräsig, "Out with it! We will break their fiddle in two." "Well," said Kurz, "don't talk about it." "God forbid," said Habermann, and led the ten of hearts: "Duke Michael fell upon the land." "Come, Herr Oberförster," said the rector, playing the knave of hearts. "Herze mich und küsse mich, und krünkle meine krause nich,"[5] said Bräsig, playing the queen. "That maid must have a man," said Kurz, playing the king, and, laying the trick aside, he led a low club (kreuz). "Kreuz Kringel und Zweibach!"[6]