There's no question of paying the rent, and never will be, as
far as I can see; so I thought I had better ask what was to be done
with the poor things."
"What can we do?"
"We could seize the bits of sticks they still have, though that
would not cover the rent that is owing. The best thing, perhaps,
would be to tell Frau Wander just to take her things and clear out;
then at least we could relet the rooms."
"Frau Wander does not work?"
"How can she?--five children, and the youngest still at the breast."
"I will see to it myself, and let you know what is to be done."
"Very good, Herr Doctor," said Stubbe, much relieved. He had a kind
heart and it was only his strict sense of duty that led him to
mention the case of the Wanders, and particularly the unpermissible
selling of the furniture, to the owner of the house.
Stubbe had barely reached home before Wilhelm appeared in the
Kochstrasse. His house lay between the Charlotten and
Markgrafenstrasse, and was an old and unpretentious structure,
looking, among the stately houses of a later period which surrounded
it on all sides, like a poor relation at a rich and distinguished
family gathering. During the "milliard years," building speculators
had offered him considerable sums for the ground, but he was not to
be prevailed upon to sell the house left him by his father.
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