All was again perfectly still without. The two friends went to the open window, threw their arms over each other’s shoulders, and looked out into the silent night.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
“Bring’ häusliche Hülfe
Incubus! incubus.
Tritt herhor und mache den Schluss.”
GOETHE’s Faust.
“Es giebt so bange Zeiten,
Es giebt so trüben Muth!”—NOVALIS.
The next morning Wilhelm related his evening adventure at the breakfast-table; the sisters laughed at it. The mother, on the contrary, was silent, left the room, and after some time returned.
“There have been thieves here!” said she, “and one might almost imagine that they were persons in the household itself. They have been at the press where the table-linen is kept, and have not been sparing in their levies. The beautiful old silver tankard, which I inherited from my grandmother, is also missing. I would much sooner have given the value of the silver than have lost that piece!”
“Will not the lady let it be tried by the sieve?” asked the old servant: “that is a pretty sure way!”
“That is nothing but superstition,” answered she; “in that way the innocent may so easily be suspected.”
“As the lady pleases!” said the servant, and shook his head.
In the mean time a search through the house was instituted. The boxes of the domestics were examined, but nothing was discovered.