After this disrobing she stood before me in the costume of the youthful Richelieu, so bewitchingly charming, so gay and bright, that I could not restrain my delight.
She had come from old Prince Puckler, who, as he never visited the theatre in the city, wished to see her in the costume whose beauty had been so much praised.

The vigorous, gay old gentleman had charmed her, and she declared that she liked him far better than any of the young men.

But as she knew little of his former life and works, I told her of his foolish pranks and chivalrous deeds.
It seemed as if her presence increased my powers of description, and when I at last took leave she exclaimed: "You'll come again, won't you?
After one has finished one's part, it's the best time to talk." Did I wait to be asked a second time?
Oh, no! Even had I not been the "foolhardy Ebers," I should have accepted her invitation.

The very next evening I was in the pleasant sitting-room, and whenever I could slip away after supper I went to the girl, whom I loved more and more ardently.

Sometimes I repeated poems of my own, sometimes she recited and acted passages from her best parts, amid continual jesting and laughter.