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pushing aside the men like flies whenever they stood in his way。
At length they reached the door； and stepped into the corridor。
Baron von Hormayr； like a tiger pouncing upon his prey； rushed upon
Andreas Hofer； seized his arm； and drew him down the corridor into
the outer hall； which was so deserted and silent that there was no
danger of their conversation being overheard by an eavesdropper。
Here at length Hormayr stood still and dropped the arm of Andreas
Hofer； who had followed him； dumfounded with astonishment； and
glancing around as if looking for somebody else。
〃Andy；〃 exclaimed Hormayr； vehemently； 〃what am I to think of you？
The Tyrolese always keep their promises； and to think that our
honest Sandwirth alone should not do so！ You pledged me your word
that you would conceal your presence here in Vienna as much as
possible； and now you are running about the city in your national
costume and with your bearded face to hear the opera…trills and see
how the ballet…dancers stretch their legs！〃 ＇Footnote： Hormayr's own
words。See Hormayr's 〃Andreas Hofer；〃 vol。 i。； p。 209。＇
〃Andreas Hofer never breaks his word；〃 said Hofer； gravely。 〃I
promised not to appear in the streets in the day…time； and I have
faithfully kept my word。 I stayed at home all day； and it was only
after nightfall that we three went together into the street。
Speckbacher and Wallner went to the Archduke John's gunsmith；
Anthony Steger； to take leave of him； and I intended to go to St。
Stephen's Cathedral to attend vespers。 But I am a stranger in the
city； and happened to lose my way。 All at once I got into a dense
crowd； and thought I had arrived at St。 Stephen's Cathedral； and
that the crowd consisted of pious Christians going to vespers；
hence； I allowed myself to be drawn along into the door； because I
thought it was the church。〃
〃And on buying a ticket。 Andy； you supposed you purchased
indulgence； did you not？ 〃
〃No； I did not；〃 said Andreas in a tone of embarrassment。 〃But； on
seeing all those persons step to the office and get tickets； I
thought there were Christian passion…plays performed there； as at
Innspruck in Lent； and on hearing the man standing before me
shouting； 'Ticket for an orchestra…stall；' I shouted； also； 'Ticket
for an orchestra…stall；' and threw a florin on the table。 Thereupon
they handed me a ticket； and I followed the others into the hall。
The performance commenced almost at the same moment； the curtain
rose； and the actors began to sing。 It is true； it is not a passion…
play； and there is nothing from the Bible in it； but then it is a
nice play。 I believe the curtain will rise again immediately； and it
is time for me to return to my seat。 But I should like to know where
my countryman with the horses and wine is。 He insisted on seeing me；
sent for me； and does not come now。〃
〃But； Andy； do you not yet know that it was I who sent for you？〃
asked Hormayr。 〃Why； it was only a stratagem of mine to get the
Barbone out of the theatre and take him away from here。〃
〃But why do you want to take me away from here？ I tell you I like
the play very well； and have never seen any thing like it。 It is
true； Cherubino； the boy； is an arrant liar； but he is a jolly
fellow； and I do not want him to come to grief。 And Figaro is a sly
fox； and withal a brave man。 I should like to make his acquaintance
and ask him if he really promised old Marielle to marry her； for it
would be wrong if he did not keep his word now； and refused to make
her his wife because he likes the young woman better than her。 If I
knew where he lives； I would go to him this very night and tell him
what he ought to do。〃
〃Oh； you foolish old child of Nature！ what you saw on the stage was
nothing but a play。 Figaro never existed； and even though he did；
you would not go to him； but accompany me and take supper with me。〃
〃I am sorry。〃 said Andreas； gravely； 〃I cannot do so； for； in the
first place； I must stay here and wait for the countryman who has
arrived here with the horses and wine。〃
〃Jesus Maria！ what do you say？ The countryman？ Did I not tell you
that it is I； Andy？〃
〃Oh； yes； I had already forgotten it。 But； second； I cannot go
because I must see the remainder of the play。 Let me； therefore；
return to my seat； for I paid for the whole performance； I believe I
have already missed a great deal； but they will assuredly not return
to me at the office a penny for what I did not hear。〃 ＇Footnote：
Hofer's own words。See Hormayr； 〃Andreas Hofer；〃 vol。 i。； p。 810。＇
〃They will not； and shall not either；〃 cried Hormayr； angrily。 〃You
will not return to your seat； Andy； but go and take supper with me。
For you know； my dear fellow； that you have come to Vienna； not to
go to the theatre； but to ask the dear Archduke John's assistance
and succor for the beloved Tyrol； and inquire of the emperor if he
will not aid his loyal Tyrolese in their attempt to become his
subjects once more。 And the emperor and the archduke will help you；
they promise to send soldiers and guns in time to the Tyrol。 But； in
return； you must do what the archduke asked you to do； you must
carefully conceal yourself； Andy； in order to prevent the Bavarians
from learning of your trip to Vienna； otherwise they would arrest
you and your friends after your return to the Tyrol。 Hence you must
not return to your seat； where so many persons would see you； and
unfortunately have seen you already。〃
〃Well； if it must be so； let us go； sir；〃 sighed Andreas。 〃But just
listen how they are singing； shouting； and cheering inside！ Jesus
Maria！ Figaro； I believe； will have to marry old Marielle after all；
and give up pretty little Susanne。 Ah； my God！ she will die heart…
broken； for she loves him so dearly。 Pray； sir； let me go in once
more； that I may see whether or not he must marry old Marielle。〃
〃No； Andy；〃 said Hormayr； smiling； 〃you need not be uneasy； Figaro
will not marry old Marielle； for she is his own mother。〃
〃What！〃 cried Andreas； in dismay； 〃she his mother； and he has
promised to marry her！ That is most sinful and infamous！ No good
Christian should listen to such things。 Come along； sir。 I do not
want to hear another word of it。 Good heavens！ what will Anna
Gertrude say when I tell her what I have seen here； and that there
are here in Vienna men infamous enough to promise to marry their
mothers？〃
〃But they never do so in reality； Andy； but only on the stage。
Otherwise the police would be after them at once。 For the emperor is
a very pious and virtuous gentleman； and he does not permit any
infractions of the sacred laws of God and the Church in his
dominions。〃
〃Yes； the emperor is a very pious and virtuous gentleman；〃 exclaimed
Andreas Hofer； enthusiastically； 〃and that is the reason why the
Tyrolese love him and wish to be again his subjects and children。
Come； I will go home with you。 I do not want to hear any more of the
theatrical nonsense。 Let us speak of our emperor and our dear
Archduke John。 God grant that we may soon be able to say he is our
emperor again； and the archduke is our John； and his Tyrolese are
again his subjects； because they fought well for their liberty； and
bec