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My ear caught not the clock's last chime, And might I beg to ask the time? |
Florestein, even though he was drunk, was half alive to his danger. He hadn't enough courage to survive a sudden sneeze. So he braced up a little and eyed Devilshoof:
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If the bottle has prevailed, Yet whenever I'm assailed, Though there may be nothing in it, I am sobered in a minute. |
One could see that this was quite true. Florestein was a good deal worried. He took out his watch, and assured Devilshoof that it was quite late.
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I am really grieved to see Any one in such a state, And gladly will take the greatest care Of the rings and chains you chance to wear, |
Devilshoof said still more politely; and bowing all of the time he removed the ornaments from Florestein's person.
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What I thought was politeness, is downright theft, And at this rate I soon shall have nothing left, |
the unfortunate dandy moaned, clutching his gewgaws hopelessly, while all the gipsies beset him, each taking all he could for himself. But Devilshoof having secured the medallion, made off with it. He was no sooner gone than a dark woman wrapped in a cloak came into the street and, when she was right in the midst of the squabble, she dropped her cloak and revealed herself as Queen of the band. All the gipsies were amazed and not very comfortable either!—because, strange to say, this gipsy queen did not approve of the maraudings of her band; and when she caught them at thievery she punished them.
"Return those things you have stolen," she commanded, and they made haste to do so, while the trembling Florestein took a hurried inventory of his property. But among the things returned, he didn't find the medallion.