“It is true that the German stage is a castaway—­a Cinderella—­ thrust aside, and clothed with sackcloth and ashes, while the spoiled and petted step-child is clothed in gold-embroidered robes.  Alas! alas! it is a bitter thing that the French actors are summoned by the king to perform in the royal castle, while Schonemein, the director of the German theatre, must rent the Council-house for a large sum of money, and must pay a heavy tax for the permission to give to the German public a German stage.  Wait patiently, brother, all this shall be changed, when the mystery of mysteries is discovered, when we have found the black ram!  I bless the accident which gave me a knowledge of your secret, which forced you to receive me as a member in order to secure my silence.  I shall be rich, powerful, and influential; I will build a superb theatre, and fill the German heart with wonder and rapture.”

“Well, well, let us first understand the art of making gold, and we will make the whole world our theatre, and all mankind shall play before us!  Hasten, therefore, brother, hasten!  By the next full moon we will be the almighty rulers of the earth and all that is therein!”

“Always provided that we have found the black ram.”

“We will find him!  If necessary, we will give his weight in gold, and gold can do all things.  Honor, love, power, position, and fame, can all be bought with gold!  Let us, then, make haste to be rich.  To be rich is to be independent, free, and gloriously happy.  Go, my brother, go! and may you soon return crowned with success.”

“I have still a few weighty questions to ask.  In the first place, where shall I go?”

“To seek the black ram—­it makes no difference where.”

“Ah! it makes no difference!  You do not seem to remember that the vacation is over, that the professors of the University of Halle have threatened to dismiss me if my attendance is so irregular.  I must, therefore, return to Halle to-day, or—­”

“Return to Halle to-day!” cried Fredersdorf, with horror.  “That is impossible!  You cannot return to Halle, unless you have already found what we need.”

“And that not being the case, I shall not return to Halle; I shall be dismissed, and will cease to be a student.  Do you consent, then, that I shall become an actor, and take the great Eckhof for my only professor?”

“Yes, I consent, provided the command of the alchemist is complied with.”

“And how if the alchemist, notwithstanding the blood of the black ram, is unhappily not able to bring up the devil?”

At this question, a feverish crimson spot took possession of the wan cheek of Fredersdorf, which was instantly chased away by a more intense pallor.  “If that is the result, I will either go mad or die,” he murmured.

“And then will you see the devil face to face!” cried his brother, with a gay laugh.  “But perhaps you might find a Eurydice to unlock the under world for you.  Well, we shall see.  Till then, farewell, brother, farewell.”  Nodding merrily to Fredersdorf, Joseph hurried away.