“I see that you are an honourable man; I have long wished for a man like you. Give me, I pray, your right hand.”
“To what end?”
“That head is gray and reverend. You have been long in the world—have felt many sorrows—is it not so? And have become more humane.”
“Sir, to what does this tend?”
“You are now distant by only one step from eternity—soon, soon will you need mercy from God. You will not deny it to man. Do you suspect nothing? With whom do you suppose you are speaking?”
“What do you mean? You terrify me.”
“If you do not already suspect—write to your prince how you found me, and that I myself of my free choice was my own betrayer—that God will be merciful unto him as he now shows mercy unto me. Entreat for me, old man, and then let a tear fall on your report: I am—the ‘Host of the Sun.’”
J. O.
[[1]] These questions appear the same in English, but the first in German is “Wer seyd Ihr,” and the second “Wer sind Sie.” According to German usage the latter alone is courteous.