"Bräsig, say what you have to say! What I have borne so long, I can bear yet longer, if need be."
"That is not my meaning," said Bräsig. "It is all out, the rascals are convicted, and we have the money; not all, but some of it."
The old man had dreamed what it would be to be delivered from his troubles, for a ray of hope had gleamed upon his horizon; but when the sun was fairly risen upon this new day, and shone brightly in his face, his eyes were blinded by the sudden splendor, and a thousand suns floated around him.
"Bräsig! Bräsig! My honest name! My child's happiness!" and he sank back in his chair, and Bräsig held him the glass of water, and the old man drank, and recovered himself a little, and grasped Bräsig, who stood before him, about the knees: "Zachary, you have never in your life deceived me!"
"No, Karl, it is the pure truth, and it stands in the protocol, and the rascals will be sent to Dreiberg, the Herr Burgomeister says; but first to Bützow, to the criminal court."
"Bräsig," said Habermann, and he stood up, and went into his sleeping room, "leave me alone, and say nothing to Louise! Yes, tell her to come up."
"Yes, Karl," said Bräsig, walking to the window, and looking out, and wiping the tears from his eyes, and as he went through the door he saw his Karl, in the bedroom, upon his knees.
Louise went to her father, Bräsig told her nothing; but to the Frau Pastorin he was not so silent.
"Bless me," said the little Frau, "now Louise has gone away, and Habermann does not come, and you, Bräsig, don't come at the right time, the dinner will be cold, and we have such nice fish. What were you going to tell me, Bräsig?"
"Oh, nothing much," said Uncle Bräsig, looking as if the rascals had infected him with all sorts of roguery, and he must exercise it now upon the Frau Pastorin, because she had abused him so about the letter; "only that Habermann and Louise are not coming to dinner. But we two can begin."