"Then the money for the journey, Raschke?" whispered Mrs. Aurelia, in a low voice, that the children might not hear.
"You have in your linen cupboard an old black savings-box," replied Raschke, slily. "Do you think I know nothing of it?"
"What I have collected in that is for a new dress-coat."
"You wish to take away from me my old one?" asked Raschke, indignantly; "it is well that I have made the discovery. I would now travel to the capital even if I had no occasion for it. Out with the box!"
Mrs. Aurelia went slowly, brought the savings-box, and with silent reproach, put it into his hands. The Professor tossed the money, together with the box, into his breeches' pocket, threw his arm round his wife, and kissed her on the forehead.
"You are my own dear wife," he exclaimed; "and now there must be no delay. Bring me Plato and Spinoza."
Plato was the silk cap, and Spinoza the thick cloak of the Professor. These treasures of the house were so called because they had been bought with the money earned by two books on those philosophers. The impression which the works had made on the learned world had been very great, but the remuneration very small. A commotion arose among the children, for in winter these beautiful articles were sometimes brought out for a Sunday walk. The little troop ran with their mother to fetch them.
"Be sure and bring them back, Raschke. I am so afraid you will lose one of them."
"As I have told you, Aurelia, in traveling you may depend upon me."
"I will write a few lines to Werner; he must take care that you keep them both. I will put the letter in your coat pocket, if you will only give it to him."