two figures, and drawing with his
pen on the paper before him, without observing what he was about. When
this had been going on for some little time, somebody tapped him on the
shoulder from behind, and said, in rather a hollow voice:

"'Good! very good! I like that; it promises well!'

"Traugott, waking from his dream, turned sharply round, and felt like a
man struck by a thunderbolt. Astonishment, alarm, rendered him
speechless; for he found himself staring into the face of the very man
who was represented in the fresco on the wall above him. It was he who
had spoken the words, and beside him stood the beautiful page, smiling
at Traugott as if with inexpressible affection.

"'It is they in the body,' was the thought which flashed through his
mind. 'They'll throw off those ugly cloaks directly, and appear in
their beautiful antique costume.'

"The seething masses of people were hurrying to and fro, and the two
strange figures were speedily lost in the throng. But Traugott stood in
the same spot, with his letter of advice in his hand, till the business
hours were long over, and only one or two people passed at intervals
through the hall. At last he saw Herr Elias Roos, coming up to him with
two strange gentlemen.

"'Well, Traugott,' said Elias Roos, 'what are you cogitating about here
so late in the afternoon? Have you sent off the Hamburg advices all
right?'

"Without thinking what he was doing, Traugott handed him the sheet of
paper which he had in his hand. On seeing it, Elias Roos struck his
clenched fists together over his head, stamped with his right foot,
slightly at first, then very violently, and shouted, till the hall
resounded:

"'Oh! good Lord! Oh! good Lord! Stupid, childish nonsense! Here's a
partner for you! Here's a precious son-in-law! Damnation, sir, are you
out of your senses? The letter of advice, the letter of advice? Oh
God--the _post_!'

"Herr Elias nearly went into a fit with anger. The two strangers smiled
at this singular letter of advice, which certainly wasn't of much use
as such, as it stood. Immediately after the words 'Referring to your
esteemed order of the 20th instant,' Traugott had made a firm, bold
outline sketch of the two striking figures of the old man and the page.
The strange gentlemen strove to calm Herr Elias, addressing him in the
most soothing tones; but he shoved his wig into various positions,
banged his cane on the floor, and cried:

"'The devil's in the fello