When this burglarious, larcenons felony The stranger Idenst. The Hungarian? To fish the Baron from the Oder. Idenst. Not All gipsies, and ill-clothed and sallow people. Prisoners we'll have at least, if not the And for the Baron's gold-if 'tis not found, Unlikely. But, hold-might it not have been For your Lord's losses! Fritz. He hath found a better. Fritz. In a most immense inheritance. The late Count Siegendorf, his distant kinsman, Is dead near Prague, in his castle, and my Is on his way to take possession. Idenst. Was there no heir? Fritz. Oh, yes; but he has disappear'd Long from the world's eye, and perhaps the world. A prodigal son, beneath his father's ban From steward to scullion, save in the fair The Baron would find means to silence him, We scorn it as we do board-wages: then Also the cabinet, if portable. Idenst. There is some sense in that- 'Twas none of our corps; but some petty, Picker and stealer, without art or genius. Idenst. And my principles, I hope. What's to be done? Idenst. Nothing-but there's a good deal to be said. We'll offer a reward; move heaven and earth, Were he to re-appear: he's politic, Idenst. He's fortunate. Fritz. "Tis true, there is a grandson, Whom the late Count reclaim'd from his son's hands, And educated as his heir; but then Idenst. How so? A left-hand,love,imprudent sort of marriage, be brought To see the parents, though he took the son. may Puzzle your Baron to unravel. Fritz. Why, For mettle, he has quite enough; they say, Idenst. The devil he did! It must have been at his suggestion, at And the police (though there's nonc nearer | An hour so critical as was the eve than Frankfort); post notices in manuscript Of the old man's death, whose heart was Idenst. Was there no cause assign'd? And none perhaps the true one. Some averr'd The old man held his spirit in so strictly | Would look into the fiery eyes of war, (But that could scarce be, for he doted on As ardently for glory as you dared An obscure death to save an unknown him); A third believed he wish'd to serve in war, But peace being made soon after his departure, He might have since return'd, were that the motive; A fourth set charitably have surmised, As there was something strange and mystic in him, That in the wild exuberance of his nature, He had join'd the black bands, who lay waste Lusatia, The mountains of Bohemia and Silesia, Since the last years of war had dwindled into A kind of general condottiero-system Idenst. That cannot be. A young heir, bred to wealth and luxury, To risk his life and honours with disbanded - Soldiers and desperadoes! Fritz. Heaven best knows! But there are human natures so allied » Or tame the tiger, though their infancy Were but the same thing upon a grand scale; And now that they are gone, and peace proclaim'd, They who would follow the same pastime stranger In an as perilous but opposite element. You are made for the service: I have served; Have rank by birth and soldiership, and friends, Who shall be yours. Tis true, this pause of peace Favours such views at present scantily; But 'twill not last, men's spirits are too stirring; And, after thirty years of conflict, peace Is but a petty war, as the times show us In every forest, or a mere arm'd truce. War will reclaim his own; and, in the meantime, You might obtain a post, which would ensure A higher soon, and, by my influence, fail not To rise. I speak of Brandenburgh, wherein I stand well with the elector; in Bohemia, Like you, I am a stranger, and we are now Upon its frontier. Ulric. You perceive my garb Is Saxon, and of course my service due Stralenh. Why, this is mere usury! Ulric. You shall say so when I claim the payment. Stralenh. Well, Sir, since you will notYou are nobly born? Ulric. I've heard my kinsmen say so. Stralenh. Your actions show it. Might I ask your name? Ulric. Ulric. Stralenh. Your house's? Stralenh. (aside) Most probably an Whom these unsettled times forbid to boast His lineage on these wild and dangerous frontiers, Where the name of his country is abhorr'd. [Aloud to Fritz and Idenstein. So, Sirs! how have ye sped in your researches? I Idenst. Indifferent well, your Excellency. Stralenh. Then am to deem the plunderer is caught? Idenst. Humph!-not exactly. Stralenh. Or at least suspected? Idenst. Oh! for that matter, very much suspected. Stralenh. Who may he be? Idenst. Why, don't you know, my Lord? Stralenh. How should I? I was fast asleep. Exactly like the rest, or rather better: But I'll engage, that if seen there but once, Stralenh. (to Fritz) Prithee, Fritz, in- What hath been done to trace the fellow? Fritz. Faith! My Lord, not much as yet, except conjecture. Stralenh. Besides the loss (which, I must own, affects me Just now materially), I needs would find And lighted chambers, on my rest, and snatch The gold before my scarce closed eyes, would soon Leave bare your borough, Sir Intendant! Idenst. True; If there were aught to carry off, my Lord. Ulric. What is all this? Stralenh. You join'd us but this morning, And have not heard that I was robb'd last night. Ulric. Some rumour of it reach'd me as The outer chambers of the palace, but Stralenh. It is a strange business: Can only be approved by proofs. You see Stralenh. (again interrupting him, and addressing Ulric) In short, I was asleep upon a chair, Besides those of the place, and bore away Though slighter, yet not slight, to aid these men (Who seem but lukewarm) in recovering it? Ulric. Most willingly, and without loss of time (To Idenstein). Come hither, Mynheer! Idenst. But so much haste bodes Right little speed, and— Ulric. Standing motionless, None; so let's march, we'll talk as we go on, Idenst. But Ulric. Show the spot, and then I'll answer you. Fritz. I will, Sir, with his Excellency's leave. Stralenh. Do so, and take yon old ase with you. Fritz. Hence! Ulric. Come on, old oracle, expound thy riddle! [Exit with Idenstein and Fritz. Stralenh. solus) A stalwart, active, soldier-looking stripling, Handsome as Hercules ere his first labour, I have need of some such spirits near me now, Neither are they who now rise up between me And my desire. The boy, they say, 's a bold one; But he hath play'd the truant in some hour The harm done, His real estate and name; and there's no | His sixteen quarterings, for as much fresh air As would have filled a bladder, while he lay Gurgling and foaming half-way through the window Should he prove other than I deem. This robbery (Save for the actual loss), is lucky also: He's poor, and that's suspicious he's unknown, And that's defenceless,-true, we have no proofs Of guilt, but what hath he of innocence? Were he a man indifferent to my prospects, In other bearings, I should rather lay The inculpation on the Hungarian, who Hath something which I like not ; and alone Of all around, except the intendant, and The Prince's household and my own, had ingress Familiar to the chamber. In my return. Stralenh. You!--Why? Gabor. I went at day-break, To watch for the abatement of the river, As being anxious to resume my journey. Your messengers were allcheck'd likemyself; And, seeing the case hopeless, I await The current's pleasure. Stralenh. Would the dogs were in it! Why did they not, at least, attempt the passage? I order'd this at all risks. Gabor. Could you order The Oder to divide, as Moses did The Red Sea (scarcely redder than the flood Of the swoln stream), and be obey'd, perhaps They might have ventured. Stralenh. I must see to it : The knaves! the slaves!- but they shall smart for this. [Exit Stralenheim. Gabor. (solus) There goes my noble, feudal, self-will'd baron! Epitome of what brave chivalry The preux chevaliers of the good old times Have left us. Yesterday he would have given His lands (if he hath any), and, still dearer, Enter JOSEPHINE and ULRIO. Josephine. Stand back, and let me look on thee again! My Ulric!- my beloved!-can it be- Ulric. My dearest mother! My dream is realized-how beautiful How more than all I sigh'd for! Heaven receive A mother's thanks!-a mother's tears of joy! This is indeed thy work!—At such an hour, too, He comes not only as a son but saviour. Ulric. If such joy await me,it must double This long delay was not my fault. But cannot think of sorrow now, and doubt Ulric (kneeling). For twelve long years, Werner. No-1 am better now- Ulric. My father, Siegendorf! But we will talk of that anon. Remember, Will wait for even the show of that authority Suspicion is a heavy armour, and That he suspects me 's certain. I'm alone; In gold, in numbers, rank, authority; I'll to the secret passage, which communi cates With the No! all is silent-'twas my fancy! Still as the breathless interval between Amidst its perils. Yet I will retire, Enter GABOR and JOSEPHINE. rooms Have many outlets, and he may be gone Gabor. Baron Stralenheim What can there be in common with the And wealthy Baron and the unknown Gabor. That you know best. saved? Gabor. I help'd to save him, as in peril; I did not pledge myself to serve him in I have proved them; and my spirit boils I find them practising against the weak :— Josephine. It would be Not easy to persuade my consort of Gabor. Is he so suspicious? With its own weight impedes more than Good night. I trust to meet with him at First Peasant. But if I'm drown'd? I doubt not. Second Peasant. But our wives and families? Idenst. Cannot be worse off than they are, and may Be better. Third Peasant. I have neither, and will venture. Idenst. That's right. A gallant carle, A soldier. I'll promote you to the ranks Third Peasant. No more? Idenst. Out upon your avarice! When had you half the sum? Third Peasant. Never-but ne'er Idenst. Sirrah! in the Prince's And if a single dog's ear of this packet Like Ziska's skin, to beat alarm to all [Exit, driving them out. |