“Though you have done a deed the enormity of which you may yourself
judge, I am yet unwilling that my house should be dishonoured on your
account, and the daughters I have had by you made to suffer. Wherefore,”
he continued, “cease to weep, I command you, and hearken to what I am
going to do; and do you, Nicholas, hide yourself in my closet and make
not a single sound.”
When this was done, he opened the door, and calling his old servant,
said to him--
“Did you not assure me that you would show me Nicholas in company with
my wife? Trusting in your word, I came hither in danger of killing my
poor wife, and I have found nothing of what you told me. I have searched
the whole room, as I will show you.”
So saying, he caused his servant to look under the beds and in every
quarter. The servant, finding nothing, was greatly astonished, and said
to his master--
“The devil must have made away with him, for I saw him go in, and he did
not come out through the door. But I can see that he is not here.”