On the wall of the mausoleum appears a spot of sunlight like those which children are fond of producing with a small mirror.[1] It is vibrating as if it were reflected by running water.
JUDGE. What is it? What is it?
OLD LADY. On the mausoleum. Don't you see?
JUDGE. It's the reflection of the sun on the river. It means——
OLD LADY. It means that we'll see the light of the sun for a long time to come——
JUDGE. On the contrary. But that's all one. The best pillow for one's head is a good conscience, and the reward of the righteous never fails.—There's our neighbour now.
NEIGHBOUR. [Enters] Good evening, Judge. Good evening, madam.
JUDGE. Good evening, neighbour. How goes it? It wasn't yesterday we had the pleasure. And how are your vines, I should have asked?
NEIGHBOUR. The vines, yes—there's mildew on them, and the starlings are after them, too.
JUDGE. Well, well! There's no mildew on my vines, and I have neither seen nor heard of any starlings.