both in mind and body.

That he was neither wiser nor duller, stronger nor weaker than his
school companions pleased Frau Schimmel, for as she loved to say: "Those
people over whom one exclaims when one meets them, either because of
their exceptional goodness or badness, are destined to be unhappy in
this world."

The old lady also took great pleasure in dressing the boy very finely,
and as he would one day be rich, she had no fear for his future, save
that on his twenty-fifth birthday he was to receive his father's elixir,
concerning which, loyal to her oath, she maintained silence towards
everyone.

But even this anxiety was, she thought, to be removed when one day there
was an alarm of fire, and she learned that a conflagration had broken
out in the oil cellar of the Winckler house, and that the notary's
quarters had been entirely destroyed by the flames.

But she rejoiced too soon, for only Doctor Melchior's letters to his
son and to the notary were burned, and the strange old lady could hardly
bring herself to forgive the brave and conscientious guardian of her
favourite, because at great personal risk he had saved the casket
containing the phial.

Of Zeno there is very little to tell, except that from a child he grew
to be a fine youth, with the great dark eyes of his mother, and that
he cared much about his elegant clothes, and was devoted to his noble
horse.

In his twenty-third year he became a doctor of ancient and modern
jurisprudence, in his twenty-fourth he gained admission to the famous
Leipsic "Schoppen" court of justice, and now the venerable Frau Schimmel
as well as his guardian, the notary, whose housekeeper had died in the
meanwhile, were strongly urging him to choose a helpmate for life.

As the wishes of his guardians coincided with his own in this
particular, he hastened to fulfil them, and his choice fell upon the
daughter of an officer of high rank, who had been noticeable at the
Rathhaus balls on account of the elegance of her costume.

Frau Schimmel was apprehensive, for according to her ideas, an
honourable young woman of good burgher family was better suited to the
heir of The Three Kings; yet in reality she considered nothing too good
or too beautiful for Zeno, and after she had learned from the officer's
servants that their mistress was of a cheerful disposition, and was able
with her own skilful hands to dress herself well on very small means,
and to keep up an appearance of ele