Wilhelm Hauff
The Singer
I
"It is a strange occurrence, truly," said Councilor Bolnau to a friend whom he met on Broad Street in B. "You must confess that this a queer age we live in."
"You mean the affair in the North?" answered his friend. "Have you important news, councilor? Has your friend, the foreign minister, told you some important secret of state?"
"Oh, don't bother me with politics or state secrets; let them go as they may. I mean now the affair of Mademoiselle Bianetti."
"The little singer? Has she been engaged again? They say the conductor of the orchestra has quarreled with her"
"But for heaven's sake!" cried the councilor in astonishment, "where have you been hiding yourself that you do not know what all the city knows? Have you not heard what has happened to our little Bianetti?"
"Not a word, on my honor. What is it, then?"
"Nothing further than that she was stabbed to death last night."
The councilor was known as a great joker. When he made his usual morning promenade up and down Broad Street, it was his habit to stop his friends and tell them some wonderful story. This particular friend, therefore, was not much shocked at such terrible news. Instead, he answered calmly: "Is that all you know to-day, Bolnau? Your imagination must have given out if you exaggerate to this
extent. When you stop me another time, have something
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