"With your gracious permission, Frau Pastorin," interrupted Zachary Bräsig, taking the side of his old treasure, "I must interrupt your discourse; I am quite of Frau Nüssler's opinion. Do you see, last week the Frau Syndic called to me, and asked me, very kindly, 'Herr Inspector, is it true that the Frau Pastorin once held a rendezvous in a ditch----'"
"Bräsig!" screamed the little Frau Pastorin, and mantle and bands were gone directly.
"Don't be troubled!" said Uncle Bräsig, throwing a glance at Louise, "I can be discreet, upon occasion. 'No,' I said to the Frau Syndic, 'it is an abominable lie.' And so I told a lie for you, Frau Pastorin, and, if I must be roasted in hell for it, I beg that you will look down from heaven sometimes and afford me a little relief."
The Frau Pastorin had something to say, but Habermann looked in at the door: "Oh, Bräsig, come here a moment!"
"Habermann----" began the little Frau.
"Frau Pastorin, I shall come back directly."
Bräsig went.
On the other side of the hall they were as much excited, but in a different way. When Habermann entered the room with Moses, the young Frau rose from the sofa, with a pang in her heart, and Moses stood astonished.
"The gracious Frau von Rambow," said Habermann, and, turning to the lady, "This is my old friend Moses; but he is much fatigued from the walk. You will excuse me, gracious Frau;" and he brought him to the sofa, and laid him down, and took cushions and pillows and put them under his head.
When the old man had recovered a little, Habermann asked, "Moses, do you know the gracious Frau?"