"He said; 'help is near.'"
"Oh! and then the Rathsherr came?"
"Yes, Herr Amtshauptmann, and I shoved my broom in his face; but I couldn't help it."
"This is a very strange thing!" said the old Herr, and walked up and down, and stroked his chin, and looked up at the ceiling, and looked down on the floor. At last he stood still and said, "Neiting, I see clearly what it is. That old fool, Westphalen, has taken fright, and the Rathsherr has been meddling, and has put her up to some folly. She has hidden herself--you'll see."
"Well then, let her, Weber."
"No, Neiting, that won't do. She must come to the town and bear witness for the watchmaker and the Miller, or both their necks may be in danger. If I only knew where that monkey, Fritz Sahlmann, was! He'll know all about it. And you don't know where he is, Hanchen?"
"No, Herr."
"Well, then, you may go."
As Hanchen turned round to go, her eyes fell on the end-window, but, being naturally very clear and wide-awake they took in, not only the window, but what was passing outside it. She turned quickly round again, and said--
"Now I know where he is, Herr Amtshauptmann."