"Look at this crowd, dear child," she said. "Did you ever before see Heidelberg in such a state of excitement?"
"I wished to hear the news from you, Herr Belier," answered Erastus. "Let us go over to the Hirsch, there we can certainly ascertain."
"I do not visit taverns," said Belier with a polite but negative motion of the hand.
"Good, then I will take that sin on myself," laughed Erastus, "take care of my child, I shall soon be back."
Whilst Herr Belier accompanied Erastus downstairs and then returned to his study, Lydia remained at the window with the lively Frenchwoman. She felt very sad, and would have wished to be alone so as to have a good cry. All this misery had been caused by the horrid man, who had wished to drag her to destruction, and against whom she nevertheless felt herself to be defenceless.
"Who has been the cause of all this trouble?" asked the little Frenchwoman with a sigh.
"Laurenzano," called out a screechy voice, "filou Laurenzano."
Lydia turned pale, and looked around her in terror. Frau Belier laughed. "Be quiet, Papchen," she said to a bird, which Lydia now noticed for the first time. "You scare people." Lydia clung terrified to Frau Belier's arm.
"There is witchcraft in this," she said trembling, "The bird is right. Oh, how frightened I am!"
"Be sensible, child, the name of our architect is Laurenzano, and as his name is mentioned daily in connection with the new building my husband is undertaking, the parrot has picked up his name."