The words were intended less for the waiter than for the feather dealer and his friends.
The latter had complained of Dietel to the landlord of The Pike, and, after he had received a reproof, they punished him for his rudeness by ordering him to fetch one jug of wine from the cellar after another.

At last, when, with many a malediction, he had brought up the fifth, his tormentors released him, but then the best time was lost.

Nevertheless he continued the pursuit and entered the little garden with the dog, but the thief had fled.
After assuring himself of this fact he stood still, rubbing his narrow forehead with the tips of his fingers.
The rogue was most probably one of the vagrants, and like a flash it entered his mind that the ropedancer, Kuni, who in her prosperous days, instead of eating meat and vegetables, preferred to satisfy her appetite with fruits and sweet dainties, might be the culprit.

Besides, when he had looked around among the guests just before, she was no longer with the other vagabonds.
Certain of having found the right trail, he instantly went to the window below which the strollers lay, thrust his head into the room from the outside, and waked the wife of the tongueless swearer.

She had fallen asleep on the floor with the sewing in her hand.