It was a happy release. Old Anna was overjoyed.
"Now I can sleep in peace," she said.
[CHAPTER XII.]
MASTER FINK ENDEAVORS TO RESCUE KATRINE LOEBEG
FROM THE EVIL INFLUENCE OF PRETZEL THE MISER.
I did not entirely lose sight of Gideon. It is not easy in a town like this for a man to hide himself and his doings from the knowledge of his neighbors, and it was very soon known to everybody that Gideon Wolf and I had parted company. The question now was what he would do, how he intended to live. I devoutly hoped that he would leave the town and seek his fortune elsewhere, but my hope was not fulfilled. Old Anna, womanlike, was more curious about him than I, and she made it her business to find out all she could concerning his movements. Thus for some time all the information I received with reference to him came through her. On one day it was,
"Gideon Wolf called this morning upon Peterson the tanner, to collect some money he owes Miser Pretzel."
On another day,
"They were walking together this afternoon, Pretzel and Gideon."
And at length,
"Gideon Wolf has gone to live in the Temple, in the garret of the house immediately opposite Miser Pretzel's."