Page:Specimens of German Romance (Volume 2).djvu/57

 that could be, and which were readily bought at a great price.

It chanced that a young man, called George Pepusch,—the kind reader will soon be better acquainted with him,—took a fancy to visit the flea-tamer late in the evening. Already, upon the stairs, he heard the clamour of a dispute, that grew louder and louder with every moment, and at last became a perfect tempest. Just as he was about to enter, the door of the hall was violently flung open, and the multitude rushed out in a heap upon him, their faces pale with terror.

"The cursed wizard!—the Satan's-brood! I'll denounce him to the supreme court!—He shall out of the city, the false juggler!"

Such were the confused cries of the multitude, as, urged by fear and terror, they sought to get out of the house as quickly as possible.

A glance into the hall at once betrayed to the young Pepusch the cause of this horror, which had driven away the people. All within was alive, and a loathsome medley of the most