minna von barnhelm-第9章
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m。 And that it may not appear as if she only said what I wish； I will not even be present。 I will go； but you shall tell me after； Herr Werner； you shall tell me； whether Just is not a foul slanderer。 （Exit。）
SCENE V。 Werner； Franziska
WER。 Little woman； do you know my Major？
FRAN。 Major von Tellheim？ Yes； indeed； I do know that good man。
WER。 Is he not a good man？ Do you like him？
FRAN。 From the bottom of my heart。
WER。 Indeed！ I tell you what； little woman； you are twice as pretty now as you were before。 But what are the services； which the landlord says he has rendered our Major？
FRAN。 That is what I don't know； unless he wished to take credit to himself for the good result which fortunately has arisen from his knavish conduct。
WER。 Then what Just told me is true？ （Towards the side where the Landlord went off。） A lucky thing for you that you are gone！ He did really turn him out of his room？To treat such a man so； because the donkey fancied that he had no more money！ The Major no money！
FRAN。 What！ Has the Major any money？
WER。 By the load。 He doesn't know how much he has。 He doesn't know who is in his debt。 I am his debtor； and have brought him some old arrears。 Look； little woman； in this purse （drawing it out of one pocket） are a hundred louis d'ors； and in this packet （drawing it out of another pocket） a hundred ducats。 All his money！
FRAN。 Really！ Why then does the Major pawn his things？ He pledged a ring； you know
WER。 Pledged！ Don't you believe it。 Perhaps he wanted to get rid of the rubbish。
FRAN。 It is no rubbish； it is a very valuable ring； which； moreover； I suspect； he received from a loving hand。
WER。 That will be the reason。 From a loving hand！ Yes； yes； such a thing often puts one in mind of what one does not wish to remember； and therefore one gets rid of it。
FRAN。 What！
WER。 Odd things happen to the soldier in winter quarters。 He has nothing to do then； so he amuses himself； and to pass the time he makes acquaintances； which he only intends for the winter； but which the good soul with whom he makes them； looks upon for life。 Then； presto！ a ring is suddenly conjured on to his finger； he hardly knows himself how it gets there； and very often he would willingly give the finger with it； if he could only get free from it again。
FRAN。 Oh！ and do you think this has happened to the Major？
WER。 Undoubtedly。 Especially in Saxony。 If he had had ten fingers on each hand； he might have had all twenty full of rings。
FRAN。 （aside）。 That sounds important； and deserves to be inquired into。 Mr。 Freeholder； or Mr。 Sergeant
WER。 Little woman； if it makes no difference to you； I like 〃Mr。 Sergeant〃 best。
FRAN。 Well； Mr。 Sergeant； I have a note from the Major to my mistress。 I will just carry it in； and be here again in a moment。 Will you be so good as to wait？ I should like very much to have a little talk with you。
WER。 Are you fond of talking； little woman？ Well； with all my heart。 Go quickly。 I am fond of talking too： I will wait。
FRAN。 Yes； please wait。 （Exit。）
SCENE VI。 Paul Werner
WER。 That is not at all a bad little woman。 But I ought not to have promised her that I would wait； for it would be most to the purpose； I suppose； to find the Major。 He will not have my money； but rather pawns his property。 That is just his way。 A little trick occurs to me。 When I was in the town； a fortnight back； I paid a visit to Captain Marloff's widow。 The poor woman was ill； and was lamenting that her husband had died in debt to the Major for four hundred thalers； which she did not know how to pay。 I went to see her again to…day； I intended to tell her that I could lend her five hundred thalers； when I had received the money for my property； for I must put some of it by； if I do not go to Persia。 But she was gone； and no doubt she has not been able to pay the Major。 Yes； I'll do that； and the sooner the better。 The little woman must not take it ill of me； I cannot wait。 （Is going in thought； and almost runs against the Major； who meets him。）
SCENE VII。 Major Von Tellheim； Paul Werner
MAJ。 T。 Why so thoughtful； Werner？
WER。 Oh！ that is you。 I was just going to pay you a visit in your new quarters； Major。
MAJ。 T。 To fill my ears with curses against the Landlord of my old one。 Do not remind me of it。
WER。 I should have done that by the way： yes。 But more particularly； I wish to thank you for having been so good as to take care of my hundred louis d'ors。 Just has given them to me again。 I should have been very glad if you would have kept them longer for me。 But you have got into new quarters； which neither you nor I know much about。 Who knows what sort of place it is？ They might be stolen； and you would have to make them good to me； there would be no help for it。 So I cannot ask you to take them again。
MAJ。 T。 （smiling）。 When did you begin to be so careful； Werner？
WER。 One learns to be so。 One cannot now be careful enough of one's money。 I have also a commission for you； Major； from Frau Marloff； I have just come from her。 Her husband died four hundred thalers in your debt； she sends you a hundred ducats here； in part payment。 She will forward you the rest next week。 I believe I am the cause that she has not sent you the whole sum。 For she also owed me about eighty thalers； and she thought I was come to dun her for themwhich； perhaps； was the factso she gave them me out of the roll which she had put aside for you。 You can spare your hundred thalers for a week longer； better than I can spare my few groschens。 There； take it！ （Hands him the ducats。）
MAJ。 T。 Werner！
WER。 Well！ Why do you stare at me so？ Take it； Major！
MAJ。 T。 Werner！
WER。 What is the matter with you？ What annoys you？
MAJ。 T。 （angrily striking his forehead； and stamping with his foot。） That 。 。 。 the four hundred thalers are not all there。
WER。 Come！ Major； did not you understand me？
MAJ。 T。 It is just because I did understand you！ Alas； that the best men should to…day distress me most！
WER。 What do you say？
MAJ。 T。 This only applies partly to you。 Go； Werner！ （Pushing back Werner's hand with the money in it。）
WER。 As soon as I have got rid of this。
MAJ。 T。 Werner； suppose I tell you that Frau Marloff was here herself early this morning
WER。 Indeed？
MAJ。 T。 That she owes me nothing now
WER。 Really？
MAJ。 T。 That she has paid me every pennyWhat will you say then？
WER。 （thinks for a minute）。 I shall say that I have told a lie； and that lying is a low thing； because one may be caught at it。
MAJ。 T。 And you will be ashamed of yourself？
WER。 And what of him who compels me to lie？ Should not he be ashamed too？ Look ye； Major； if I was to say that your conduct has not vexed me； I should tell another lie； and I won't lie any more。
MAJ。 T。 Do not be annoyed； Werner。 I know your heart； and your affection for me。 But I do not require your money。
WER。 Not require it！ Rather sell； rather pawn； and get talked about！
MAJ。 T。 Oh！ people may know that I have nothing more。 One must not wish to appear richer than one is。
WER。 But why poorer？ A man has something as long as his friend has。
MAJ。 T。 It is not proper that I should be your debtor。
WER。 Not proper！ On that summer day which the sun and the enemy made hot for us； when your groom； who had your canteen； was not to be found； and you came to me and said〃Werner； have you nothing to drink？〃 and I gave you my flask； you took it and drank； did you not？ Was that proper？ Upon my life； a mouthful of dirty water at that time was often worth more than such filth （taking the purse also out of his pocket； and holding out both to him）。 Take them； dear Major！ Fancy it is water。 God has made this； too； for all。
MAJ。 T。 You torment me： don't you hear； I will not be your debtor。
WER。 At first； it was not proper； now； you will not。 Ah！ that is a different thing。 （Rather angrily。） You will not be my debtor？ But suppose you are already； Major？ Or； are you not a debtor to the man who once warded off the blow that was meant to split your head； and； at another time； knocked off the arm which was just going to pull and send a ball through your breast？ How can you become a greater debtor to th
