"Shame!" cried the three young ladies. For it was a common street song.
"And then the curtain went up again of its own accord; but the gentleman behind us said somebody raised it--perhaps the 'Child of Love' himself, for he was not in prison when the curtain was down. The dressmaker gave him a peppermint-drop, and he said: 'Watch the stage, Juffrouw, for you have paid to see it.' It cost twelve stivers, without the waffles and chocolate. Then the Baron said--but I can't tell it all exactly as it was. I will only say that the old woman wept all the time, and she could not be reconciled, because she was so unhappy. You see, Juffrouw, the child of love was her own child; and it was also the Baron's child of love. That was bad--because it was just a child of love, you see; and that is always bad. He had no papers, no credentials; nor the mother, either. And he was to die because he had hunted. Oh, it was beautiful, Juffrouw! And then the curtain went down again and we ate another waffle. The gentleman behind us said it was well that they gave plays with prison scenes in them. There were so many bad people in the hall, such as pickpockets and the like, and this would be a warning for them. The dressmaker was going to offer him another mint-drop, when she saw that her box was gone. It was silver. The gentleman said of course some pickpocket had taken it."
"He was the pickpocket!" exclaimed several.
"No, no! Don't say that; it's a sin. He was a very respectable gentleman, and addressed me as Juffrouw, just as he did the dressmaker. He tried to find the thief. He asked where the Juffrouw lived, and said that if he found the box he would bring it to her. He wore a fancy vest--no, no, no. Don't say that of him!"
"Well, tell some more about the child of love." All were interested.
"Oh, the music was so nice! And a gentleman showed them with a stick how to play."
"That is not so easy. It was very beautiful. It must be seen; it can't be told. The Baron saw that the hunter in prison was his own son; because a long time before, you see, that is--formerly, he had been acquainted with--you understand----"
Poor Leentje turned as red as fire, and left her audience in a temporary suspense.