her, as if nothing had
happened. The Frau Ahavzi always fell in a passion when she saw her
rooms so disordered, and attributed all to Muck; assert his innocence
as he might, she believed her cats who looked so demure, in preference
to her servant.

Little Muck was very sorry that here also he had been disappointed in
finding his fortune, and determined in his own mind to leave the
service of the Frau Ahavzi. As, however, on his first journey, he had
learned how badly one lives without money, he resolved to procure, in
some way, for himself the wages which his mistress had once promised
him, but had never paid. In the house of the Frau Ahavzi was a room,
which was always closed, and the inside of which he had never seen.
Nevertheless, he had often heard the Frau making a noise therein, and
he would have willingly risked his life to know what was there
concealed. Reflecting upon his travelling-money, it occurred to him
that there his mistress might conceal her treasures. But the door was
always tightly closed, and therefore he could not get at them.

One morning, after the Frau Ahavzi had gone out, one of the little
dogs who was treated by her in a very stepmother-like manner, but
whose favor he had in a great degree gained by various acts of
kindness, pulled him by his wide pantaloons, and acted as if he wanted
Muck to follow him. Muck, who always gladly played with him, did so,
and perceived that the dog was leading him to the sleeping apartment
of his mistress; he stopped before a door, which the little fellow had
never before observed, and which was now wide open. The dog entered,
and Muck, following, was overjoyed at finding himself in the very
chamber, which had so long been the object of his curiosity. He looked
all around for money, but could find none: old garments only, and
strangely-fashioned vases were scattered around. One of the latter, in
particular, attracted his attention; it was of crystal, and fine
figures were cut thereon. He lifted it up and turned it on all sides;
but, oh horror! he had not observed that it had a lid, which was but
insecurely fastened on: it fell to the floor, and broke into a
thousand pieces.

For a long time stood Little Muck motionless through terror; now was
his fate decided, now must he fly, or be killed by the old woman. His
departure was immediately resolved on; he only looked around, to see
if he could not use some of the goods of the Frau Ahavzi upon his
journey. Thereup