JUST.
Oh! a pretty sort of revenge!
MAJ. T.
Which, however, we must defer. I have not one heller of ready money, and I know not where to raise any.
JUST.
No money! What is that purse then with five hundred thalers' worth of louis d'ors, which the Landlord found in your desk?
MAJ. T.
That is money given into my charge.
JUST.
Not the hundred pistoles which your old sergeant brought you four or five weeks back?
MAJ. T.
The same. Paul Werner's; right.
JUST.
And you have not used them yet? Yet, sir, you may do what you please with them. I will answer for it that!!!!!
MAJ. T.
Indeed!
JUST.
Werner heard from me, how they had treated your claims upon the War Office. He heard!!!!!
MAJ. T.
That I should certainly be a beggar soon, if I was not one already. I am much obliged to you, Just. And the news induced Werner to offer to share his little all with me. I am very glad that I guessed this.
Listen, Just; let me have your account, directly, too; we must part.
JUST.
How! what!
MAJ. T.
Not a word. There is someone coming.
SCENE V
Lady in mourning, Major von Tellheim, Just
LADY.
I ask your pardon, sir.
MAJ. T.
Whom do you seek, Madam?
LADY.
The worthy gentleman with whom I have the honour of speaking. You do not know me again. I am the widow of your late captain.
MAJ. T.
Good heavens, Madam, how you are changed!
LADY.
I have just risen from a sick bed, to which grief on the loss of my husband brought me. I am troubling you at a very early hour, Major von Tellheim, but I am going into the country, where a kind, but also unfortunate friend, has for the present offered me an asylum.
MAJ. T. (to Just).
Leave us.
SCENE VI
Lady, Major von Tellheim
MAJ. T.
Speak freely, Madam! You must not be ashamed of your bad fortune before me. Can I serve you in any way?
LADY.
Major!!!!!
MAJ. T.
I pity you, Madam! How can I serve you? You know your husband was my friend; my friend, I say, and I have always been sparing of this title.
LADY.
Who knows better than I do how worthy you were of his friendship how worthy he was of yours? You would have been in his last thoughts, your name would have been the last sound on his dying lips, had not natural affection, stronger than friendship, demanded this sad prerogative for his unfortunate son, and his unhappy wife.
MAJ. T.