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