But Bertha at last yielded a consent; and the entire town, ever bearing in mind its universal parentage of Bertha, determined to go to great lengths of rejoicing on the wedding-day; and the burgomaster, a fool and a good man, was certainly not indifferent. I have said France and Prussia were at war at this time; and, indeed, there were a score of young French prisoners at the fort,--or rather, nineteen, for one got away the very day before that mentioned as Bertha's wedding-day. Two hours after his escape he was kissing the hand of Bertha herself, who had promised him her protection, and hidden him in Frau Klass's own dark room. Bertha had served the young Frenchman--who shall be called Max--with his breakfast, and was sitting in her porch, wondering about a good many things, when Herr Jodoque arrived. She was thinking how she should get the prisoner away,--what would be said of her, if found out,--how decidedly odious Jodoque was,--how handsome the Frenchman was,--and how she thought he was better-looking even than Daniel, the sailor who had been away three years. So Herr Jodoque came up to the door of the little cottage, bringing with him a basket. Jodoque believed in the burgomaster as a grand man, and though nobody knew better than Jodoque that he was not very clever, he rather tried in manner to imitate the important mayor. It is, and was, the custom in Rügen for the bridegroom to make a present, in a fancy basket, to the bride; and that the town might not talk, Jodoque brought _his_ bride a basket, though it was not particularly large, nor was it particularly heavy. Here is an inventory of its contents, which, with itself, Jodoque laid down with considerable effect:--_Imprimis_,--one piece of cloth, on the use of which Jodoque gave an essay. _Item_,--three cards of knitting-wool, for mittens. _Item_ and _finis_,--one white rabbit, the skin of which, Jodoque suggested, would make him a cap. "Good!" said Bertha;--"Jodoque," she added. "My angel!" "You know Madame Kurrig's?" "At the very other end of the town?" "Go there!" "Go there, angel?--why?" "The silver teapot"-- "_My_ sil--my aunt's silver teapot?" "Just so,--Madame Kurrig"-- "Has got it?--I go!--My aunt's silver teapot!" He ran down the little road towards the silver teapot,--for, indeed, Madame Kurrig did not bear a superior character,--but he had not proceeded far when he came upon the burgomaster, who was in great tribulation. Only nineteen prisoners were at the fort, and the governor had sent down a rather imperative message to the mayor, who, replying that his loyal town could not conceal a fugitive, met with such an answer as he had never received before in all his life. It is a deplorable fact that he and the town were recommended to go to a place, a visit to which the burgomaster at least hoped he should not be compelled to make.