ely." So saying, I snatched up my cap, put it on my head,
and walked smartly down the court to gain the street where he lived.
Before I got far, a young man met me. "By the by, Wolstang, I wish you
could let me have the ten gilders I lent you. I require them
immediately."--"Ten gilders!" said I; "I don't owe you a farthing. I
never saw your face before, and my name is not Wolstang; it is Frederick
Stadt."

"Psha!--But, Wolstang, laying jesting aside," continued he, "I must
positively have them."

"Have what?"

"My dear fellow, the ten gilders."

"Ten devils!--I tell you, I don't owe you a farthing."

"Really, Wolstang, this joke is very silly. We know you are an odd
fellow, but this is the most foolish prank I ever saw you play."

"Wolstang again!" said I, my heart boiling with indignation. "I tell
you, sir--I tell you, sir, that--that--" I could not get out another
word, to such a degree had indignation confounded me. Without finishing
my sentence, I rushed into the street, but not without hearing the
person say, "By heaven, he is either mad or drunk!"

In a moment I was at Wolstang's lodgings, and set the knocker agoing
with violence. The door was opened by his servant-girl Louise, a buxom
wench of some eighteen or twenty.

"Is Mr Wolstang in?" I demanded quickly.

"Mr who, sir?"

"Mr Wolstang, my dear."

"Mr Wol---- Mr who, sir?--I did not hear you."

"Mr Wolstang."

"Mr Wolstang!" re-echoed the girl, with some surprise.

"Assuredly, I ask you if Mr Wolstang is within."

"Mr Wolstang!" reiterated she. "Ha ha, ha! how droll you are to-day,
master!"

"Damnation! what do you mean?" cried I in a fury, which I now found it
impossible to suppress, "Tell me this instant if Mr Wolstang, your
master, is at home, or by the beard of Socrates, I--I----"

"Ha, ha! this is the queerest thing I ever heard of," said the little
jade, retreating into the house, and holding her sides with laughter.
"Come here, Barnabas, and hear our master asking for himself."

I now thought that the rage into which I had thrown myself had excited
the laughter of the wench, whom I knew very well to be of a frolicsome
disposition, and much disposed to turn people into ridicule. I therefore
put on as grave a face as I could--I even threw a smile into it--and
said, with all the composure and good-humour I could muster, "Come now,
my dear--conduct me to your master--I am sure he is within." This only
set her a-laughing more than eve