Mam’sell Veronica, I will tell you out, straightforward, what I have long had lying at my heart.  That evening, that unfortunate evening, when I put the ingredients of that cursed punch in my pocket, I purposed imparting to you a piece of good news, and celebrating the happy day in convivial joys.  Already I had learned that I was to be made Hofrat, for which promotion I have now the patent, cum nomine et sigillo Principis, in my pocket.”

“Ah!  Herr Registr—­Herr Hofrat Heerbrand, I meant to say,” stammered the Conrector.

“But it is you, most honored Conrector,” continued the new Hofrat; “it is you alone that can complete my happiness.  For a long time I have in secret loved your daughter, Mam’sell Veronica; and I can boast of many a kind look which she has given me, evidently showing that she would not cast me away.  In one word, honored Conrector!  I, Hofrat Heerbrand, do now entreat of you the hand of your most amiable Mam’sell Veronica, whom I, if you have nothing against it, purpose shortly to take home as my wife.”

Conrector Paulmann, full of astonishment, clapped his hands repeatedly, crying:  “Ey, Ey, Ey!  Herr Registr—­Herr Hofrat, I meant to say—­who would have thought it?  Well, if Veronica does really love you, I for my share cannot object; nay, perhaps, her present melancholy is nothing but concealed love for you, most honored Hofrat!  You know what freaks they have!”

At this moment Veronica entered, pale and agitated as she now commonly was.  Then Hofrat Heerbrand stepped toward her; mentioned in a neat speech her Saint’s-day and handed her the odorous nosegay, along with a little packet; out of which, when she opened it, a pair of glittering ear-rings beamed up at her.  A rapid flying blush tinted her cheeks; her eyes sparkled in joy, and she cried:  “O Heaven!  These are the very ear-rings which I wore some weeks ago, and thought so much of.”

“How can this be, dearest Mam’sell,” interrupted Hofrat Heerbrand, somewhat alarmed and hurt, “when I bought these jewels not an hour ago in the Schlossgasse, for current money?”

But Veronica heeded him not; she was standing before the mirror to witness the effect of the trinkets, which she had already suspended in her pretty little ears.  Conrector Paulmann disclosed to her, with grave countenance and solemn tone, his friend Heerbrand’s preferment and present proposal.  Veronica looked at the Hofrat with a searching look, and said:  “I have long known that you wished to marry me.  Well, be it so!  I promise you my heart and hand; but I must now unfold to you, to both of you, I mean, my father and my bridegroom, much that is lying heavy on my heart; yes, even now, though the soup should get cold, which I see Fraenzchen is just putting on the table.”