"Only two days ago."
"Then the body is still fresh—of course it has been exposed and examined?"
"Yes, but it was recognised at once by the family. I dare say it is buried by this time. I am going there to-morrow. If you have time, my friend, I should be most glad of your company."
"Well, I don't mind giving you a day or so, as I am taking a holiday."
"Agreed, then; we start to-morrow."
The two friends then discoursed until dinner-time, when Ludwig invited Fritz to share his meal.
The Englishman accepted the offer, and they chatted and laughed the time away till the evening.
Ludwig lived quite alone. His sisters had married, his mother was dead. Ludwig was still a bachelor, and so was my ancestor at this time.
"You have not yet put your neck under the yoke it appears," said my relative to his friend, in allusion to the conjugal tie.