Page:Select Popular Tales from the German of Musaeus.djvu/92

78 The deep melancholy of the youth now altogether disappeared; he could find no words to express his gratitude for being thus suddenly rendered the most happy of all mortals. The following morning both the travellers set out for Ellrich, where the young one equipped himself in all the bravery of a noble gallant. Master Peter paid him in advance a considerable portion of the promised inheritance, and agreed with him that he should privately let him know of the success of his undertaking, in order that he might despatch a load of costly furniture, befitting the station and character he now had to support. At their parting with each other, the presumptive father-in-law made the youth a present of a piece of advice: “Take good heed to thy tongue, and disclose our secret to no one, save to the discreet Gertrude, when she becomes thy bride.”

The sequel of the story the reader already knows.

Master Peter now enjoyed the golden fruit of his trip to the Harz Mountain, yet wisely forbore to entertain the public with any description of it, and possessed so much wealth that he hardly knew its amount. Frederic, however, was supposed to be the source of this sudden prosperity; and, as honour follows quick upon riches, he soon attained the highest dignities which the town of Rottenburg could bestow. And ever since it has become a common proverb, when the people of Rottenburg wish to describe a wealthy person, to say, “He is as rich as the son-in-law of Peter Block.”