"Ah! and the people say, also, that the two had planned it all out, beforehand; but that I do not believe."
"And why not? What was the old sinner contriving with the woman, behind my back? The fellow, who had always been sober before, must be intoxicated, at this particular time!"
"Yes, but the burgomeister of Rahnstadt himself noticed that."
"Oh, the burgomeister! What could one do, with such a trial-justice? Now he thinks it was a poor weaver's wife who stole the money from the laborer on the highway. And why? Merely because she tried to get change for a Danish double louis-d'or, which she had found; for she sticks to that story, and the wise Herr Burgomeister has been obliged to let her go.
"Yes, and the one who saw the louis-d'or, Kurz, the shop keeper, is a connection of Habermann's."
"Ah!" cried Axel, "I would give a thousand thalers more, if I could get to the bottom of this meanness."
"It would be a hard task," said Pomuchelskopp, "but, in the first place, I would--when does he go?"
"Habermann? To-morrow."
"Well, I would examine his books with the greatest care; there is no knowing but they may be wrong, also. Look particularly at the money account; one often finds out something in that way. He seems to be in pretty good circumstances; he is going to live in Rahnstadt, on his interest. Well, he has been in a good place, for many years; but I know for a certainty, that he had old debts to pay which were not insignificant. Lately, as I have learned from Slusuhr, the notary, he has done a considerable money business at high rates of interest, with his few groschen, perhaps also with money belonging to the estate."
"Oh!" exclaimed Axel, "and once when I asked him"--he stopped abruptly, not wishing to betray himself, but a feeling of hatred arose in him, as he thought that Habermann might have helped him then, and would not, because he did not offer him high enough interest.