Mrs. Raschke clasped her hands together.
"What are you thinking of, Raschke?"
"It is necessary," he said. "I despair of shaking the firm views of Werner by letter. My duty is to try whether persuasive words and detailed representations will have greater effect. I must know in what relation my friend stands to the Magister. From certain intimations of the Doctor, I fear the worst from the activity of the forger. I have a short vacation before me, and I cannot employ it better."
"But, Raschke, you wish to travel!" asked his wife, reproachfully. "How can you engage in such an undertaking?"
"You mistake me, Aurelia; in our city I sometimes do lose my bearings, but in foreign parts I always find my way."
"Because you have never yet been alone in foreign parts," replied the prudent wife.
Raschke approached her, and raised his hand warningly.
"Aurelia, it is for our friend, and one must pay no regard to trifles."
"You will never get there," rejoined his wife, with sad foreboding.
"It is much easier to speed through half the world in a secure vessel than to go on two legs through our streets; half acquaintances are the most unreliable."