Short stories, German -- Translations into English
"Lock the obstinate dog up till the morning," said the Marshal; "he
will come to his senses by that time!" With these words the wrathful
dignitary went away. These incidents had set the whole police force of
the city on the qui vive. In the next ten minutes two more watchmen
were brought to the office on similar charges with the others. One was
accused of singing a libel under the window of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, in which it was insinuated that there were no affairs to which
he was more foreign than those of his own department. The other had
sung some verses before the door of the Bishop's palace, informing him
that the "lights of the church" were by no means deficient in tallow,
but gave a great deal more smoke than illumination. The Prince, who had
wrought the poor watchmen all this woe, was always lucky enough to
escape, and grew bolder and bolder with every new attempt. The affair
was talked of everywhere. The Minister of Police, who was at cards with
the King, was informed of the insurrection among the hitherto peaceful
watchmen, and, as a proof of it, some of the verses were given to him
in writing. The King laughed very heartily at the doggerel verse about
the miserable police, who were always putting their noses into other
people's family affairs, but could never smell anything amiss in their
own, and were therefore lawful game, and ordered the next poetical
watchman who should be taken to be brought before him. He broke up the
card-table, for he saw that the Minister of Police had lost his good
humor.
X.
In the dancing-hall next to the card-room, Philip had looked at his
watch, and discovered that the time of his appointment with Rose at St.
Gregory's had nearly come. He was by no means sorry at the prospect of
giving back his silk mantle and plumed bonnet to his substitute, for he
began to find high life not quite to his taste. As he was going to the
door, the Negro once more came up to him, and whispered: "Your
Highness, Duke Herrman is seeking for you everywhere." Philip shook his
head impatiently and hurried out, followed by the Negro. When they got
to the ante-chamber, the Negro cried out, "By Heaven, here comes the
Duke!"--and slipped back into the hall.
A tall black mask walked fiercely up to Philip, and said: "Stay a
moment, sir; I've a word or two to say to you; I've been seeking for
you long."
"Quick, then," said Philip, "for I have no time to lose."
"I would not waste a moment, sir; I have sought you long enough; you
owe me satisfaction, you have injured me infamously."
"Not that I am aware of."
"You don't know me, perhaps," said the Duke, lifting up his mask; "now
that you see me, your own conscience will save me any more words. I
demand satisfaction. You and the cursed Salmoni have deceived me!"
"I know nothing about it," said Philip.
"You got up that shameful scene in the cellar of the baker's daughter.
It was at your instigation that Colonel Kalt made an assault upon me
with a cudgel."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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