er, had reached the said door, and Paumgartner was about to
proceed on his way, Master Martin, taking off his little cap and bowing
as low as he could, said to the Councillor: "Ah! if you would not think
it beneath you, my dear and honoured sir, to step into this poor house
of mine for a brief hour; if you would but be so very kind as to grant
me the opportunity of profiting by, and delighting in, your wise
conversation."

"I am sure, Master Martin," said the Councillor with a smile, "I shall
only be too happy to accept your invitation to come in; though how you
can call your house a poor one I cannot imagine. I know well that the
wealthiest of our citizens do not surpass you in the costliness of your
furniture and appointments. It is only the other day that you have
finished those additions to your house which have made it one of the
finest specimens of street architecture in all this famous town, of
which it is one of the ornaments; of the interior arrangements I say
nothing, for I am aware that of them no nobleman in the land need be
ashamed."

Old Paumgartner was right; for when the brightly-waxed and polished
door, all over rich brass-work, was opened, the spacious entrance-hall,
with its beautifully-inlaid floor, fine pictures on the walls, rich
carpets, and elegant cabinets and chairs, was seen to be like some fine
drawing-room; so that everyone willingly obeyed the instructions which,
according to an old-world custom, were inscribed on a tablet hung up
close to the door, in verse, as follows:

"Those who, in entering, these steps ascend
Should see that their shoon shall not sully the floor;
Or then let them elsewhere their footsteps wend,
That so there shall be no distress on their score
A person of judgment doth know--without this--
What, in such matter, his duty is."

It was warm weather, and the air in the rooms, now that the evening
twilight was falling, was heavy and steamy; for which reason Master
Martin took his guest into the cool, spacious "best kitchen;" such at
that time was named the apartment which, in the houses of wealthy
merchants, was indeed furnished like a kitchen, but, at the same time,
adorned not for use, but solely for display--with all manner of costly
implements of household necessity. As soon as they came in, Master
Martin cried loudly, "Rosa! Rosa!" The door presently opened, and Rosa,
Master Martin's only daughter, entered.

Gracious rea