“Yes, that is your false estimation of the subject, dear friend!” said Wilhelm: “in aesthetics you come at once to the pure and true; but in music you are far away in the outer court, where the crowd is dancing, with cymbals and trumpets, around the musical golden calf!”
And now the aesthetic unity brought them into a musical disunity. On such occasions, Otto was not one to be driven back from his position; he very well knew how to bear down his assailant by striking and original observations: but Otto, this evening, although he was animated enough—excited, one might almost say—did not exhibit the calmness, the decision in his thoughts and words, which otherwise would have given him the victory.
It was a long hour, and one yet longer and more full of anxiety, which commenced with supper. The conversation turned to the events of the day. Otto mingled in it, and endeavored therefrom to derive advantage; it was a martyrdom of the soul. Sophie praised highly his discovery.
“If Mr. Thostrup had not been here,” said she, “then we should hardly have discovered the thief. We must thank Mr. Thostrup for it, and really for a merry, amusing spectacle.”
They joked about it alai laughed, and Otto was obliged to laugh also.
“And now she sits up there, like a captive, in the roof!” said he; “it must be an uncomfortable night to her!”
“Oh, she sleeps, perhaps, better than some of us others!” said Wilhelm: “that will not annoy her!”
“She is confined in the gable chamber, out in the court, is she not?” inquired Otto: “there she has not any moonlight.”
“Yes, surely she has!” answered Sophie; “it is in the gable to the right, hooking toward the wood, that she is confined. We have placed her as near to the moon as we could. The gable on the uppermost floor is our keep.”
“But is it securely locked?” inquired Otto.