Minna Von Barnhelm

It is no rubbish; it is a very valuable ring; which, moreover, I suspect, he received from a loving hand.

WER.

That will be the reason. From a loving hand! Yes, yes; such a thing often puts one in mind of what one does not wish to remember, and therefore one gets rid of it.

FRAN.

What!

WER.

Odd things happen to the soldier in winter quarters. He has nothing to do then, so he amuses himself, and to pass the time he makes acquaintances, which he only intends for the winter, but which the good soul with whom he makes them, looks upon for life. Then, presto! a ring is suddenly conjured on to his finger; he hardly knows himself how it gets there; and very often he would willingly give the finger with it, if he could only get free from it again.

FRAN.

Oh! and do you think this has happened to the Major?

WER.

Undoubtedly. Especially in Saxony. If he had had ten fingers on each hand, he might have had all twenty full of rings.

FRAN. (aside).

That sounds important, and deserves to be inquired into.

Mr. Freeholder, or Mr. Sergeant!!!!!

WER.

Little woman, if it makes no difference to you, I like "Mr. Sergeant" best.

FRAN.

Well, Mr. Sergeant, I have a note from the Major to my mistress. I will just carry it in, and be here again in a moment. Will you be so good as to wait? I should like very much to have a little talk with you.

WER.

Are you fond of talking, little woman? Well, with all my heart. Go quickly. I am fond of talking too: I will wait.

FRAN.

Yes, please wait.

(Exit.)

SCENE VI

Paul Werner

WER.

That is not at all a bad little woman. But I ought not to have promised her that I would wait, for it would be most to the purpose, I suppose, to find the Major. He will not have my money, but rather pawns his property. That is just his way. A little trick occurs to me. When I was in the town, a fortnight back, I paid a visit to Captain Marloff's widow. The poor woman was ill, and was lamenting that her husband had died in debt to the Major for four hundred thalers, which she did not know how to pay. I went to see her again to-day; I intended to tell her that I could lend her five hundred thalers, when I had received the money for my property; for I must put some of it by, if I do not go to Persia. But she was gone; and no doubt she has not been able to pay the Major. Yes, I'll do that; and the sooner the better. The little woman must not take it ill of me; I cannot wait.

(Is going in thought, and almost runs against the Major, who meets him.)

SCENE VII

Major Von Tellheim, Paul Werner

MAJ. T.

Why so thoughtful, Werner?

WER.

Oh! that is you. I was just going to pay you a visit in your new quarters, Major.

MAJ. T.

To fill my ears with curses against the Landlord of my old one. Do not remind me of it.

WER.

I should have done that by the way: yes. But more particularly, I wish to thank you for having been so good as to take care of my hundred louis d'ors. Just has given them to me again. I should have been very glad if you would have kept them longer for me. But you have got into new quarters, which neither you nor I know much about. Who knows what sort of place it is? They might be stolen, and you would have to make them good to me; there would be no help for it. So I cannot ask you to take them again.

MAJ. T. (smiling).

When did you begin to be so careful, Werner?

WER.

One learns to be so. One cannot now be careful enough of one's money.

I have also a commission for you, Major, from Frau Marloff; I have just come from her. Her husband died four hundred thalers in your debt; she sends you a hundred ducats here, in part payment. She will forward you the rest next week. I believe I am the cause that she has not sent you the whole sum. For she also owed me about eighty thalers, and she thought I was come to dun her for them—which, perhaps, was the fact—so she gave them me out of the roll which she had put aside for you. You can spare your hundred thalers for a week longer, better than I can spare my few groschens. There, take it!

(Hands him the ducats.)

MAJ. T.

Werner!

WER.

Well! Why do you stare at me so? Take it, Major!

MAJ. T.

Werner!