h dear, oh dear! that God--

_Reiss._ What is the matter?

_Well._ (puts one hand in his bosom.) _Quoad_, old and honest? Yes,
_Quoad_, friend?--The _status amicitiae_ case cannot exist; for, if that
were the case, you ought to have known that I am afflicted with the
_chiragra_, and not to have squeezed my hands so as to make me cry out
in such harsh tones, for which I ought to crave, and do crave, pardon
of my most honoured Sir.

_P. Coun._ A particular circumstance has taken place. The gentleman
thinks he has found an argument that will invalidate the sentence
pronounced in the cause of the disputed legatees, and re-instate the
heirs of Brunnig in that property.

_Reiss._ What?

_Well._ Yes, it is so. Doctor Kannenfeld, namely, has been visited by
heaven with a severe fit of illness, and brought near the gates of
death. Moved by the exhortations of his spiritual director, he sent for
me to attend, and, amidst tears and groans, confessed that he has
deprived the children of their lawful property--

_P. Coun._ What is that?

_Reiss._ (frightened.) How?

_Well._ Being, by a certain _quidam_, whom the finger of heaven, whilst
we are here speaking about the matter, has severely touched, persuaded,
and bribed, partly to conceal, and even partly to deny the insanity of
the testatrix, at the time when the will was made, which robs the true
heirs of their due.

_P. Coun._ (in a low voice.) My God! (Pauses.)

_Well._ It is so.

_Reiss._ (embarrassed) Is Doctor Kannenfeld ill? Ay, ay?

_Well._ He is very ill. He has stated and deposed all the particulars
concerning the certain _quidam_.

_Reiss._ Well,--and,--

_Well._ Ay, if I were in your stead, I would say to myself, "True, I
have won the cause, but I will not keep what is not mine;" your
conscience then would applaud you, and your fellow-citizens would
esteem you; you would find consolation under every affliction, and when
the cold hand of death had arrested almost every faculty, and benumbed
almost every sense, your soul would look up with trembling confidence
to heaven. The poor orphans would gather round your dying bed, and weep
for their second father. Thus speaks old Wallenberg, gentlemen, whose
life has been spent in settling the disputes of this world according to
the mild precepts of christianity, a religion that at once consults our
happiness here and hereafter. [Exit.

_P. Coun._ (to Reissman.) For heaven's sake