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MIN.
Alas! he has only written to me once since the peace.
FRAN.
What!--A sigh on account of the peace? Surprising? Peace ought only to make good the ill which war causes; but it seems to disturb the good which the latter, its opposite, may have occasioned. Peace should not be so capricious!... How long have we had peace? The time seems wonderfully long, when there is so little news. It is no use the post going regularly again; n.o.body writes, for n.o.body has anything to write about.
MIN.
"Peace has been made," he wrote to me, "and I am approaching the fulfillment of my wishes." But since he only wrote that to me once, only once!!!!!
FRAN.
And since he compels us to run after this fulfillment of his wishes ourselves... If we can but find him, he shall pay for this! Suppose, in the meantime, he may have accomplished his wishes, and we should learn here that!!!!!
MIN. (anxiously).
That he is dead?
FRAN.
To you, my lady; and married to another.
MIN.
You tease, you! Wait, Franziska, I will pay you out for this! But talk to me, or I shall fall asleep. His regiment was disbanded after the peace. Who knows into what a confusion of bills and papers he may thereby have been brought? Who knows into what other regiment, or to what distant station, he may have been sent? Who knows what circ.u.mstances--There's a knock at the door.
FRAN.
Come in!
SCENE II.
Landlord, Minna, Franziska
LAND. (putting his head in at the door).
Am I permitted, your ladys.h.i.+p?
FRAN.
Our landlord?--Come in!
LAND. (A pen behind his ear, a sheet of paper and an inkstand in his hand).
I am come, your ladys.h.i.+p, to wish you a most humble good-morning; (to Franziska) and the same to you, my pretty maid.
FRAN.
A polite man!
MIN.
We are obliged to you.
FRAN.
And wish you also a good-morning.
LAND.
May I venture to ask how your ladys.h.i.+p has pa.s.sed the first night under my poor roof?
FRAN.
The roof is not so bad, sir; but the beds might have been better.
LAND.
What do I hear! Not slept well! Perhaps the over-fatigue of the journey!!!!!
MIN.
Perhaps.
LAND.
Certainly, certainly, for otherwise.... Yet, should there be anything not perfectly comfortable, my lady, I hope you will not fail to command me.
FRAN.
Very well, Mr. Landlord, very well! We are not bashful; and least of all should one be bashful at an inn. We shall not fail to say what we may wish.
LAND.
I next come to...
(taking the pen from behind his ear).
FRAN.
Well?
LAND.
Without doubt, my lady, you are already acquainted with the wise regulations of our police.
MIN.
Not in the least, sir.
LAND.
We landlords are instructed not to take in any stranger, of whatever rank or s.e.x he may be, for four-and-twenty hours, without delivering, in writing, his name, place of abode, occupation, object of his journey, probable stay, and so on, to the proper authorities.
MIN.
Very well.
LAND.
Will your ladys.h.i.+p then be so good...
(going to the table, and making ready to write).
MIN.
Willingly. My name is!!!!!
LAND.
One minute!
(He writes.) "Date, 22nd August, A. D., &C.; arrived at the King of Spain hotel."
Now your name, my lady.
MIN.
Fraulein von Barnhelm.
