The editor of the Vossian Gazette had no idea of the vicinity of his rival.  He continued to congratulate himself on the advantage he had obtained, and proceeded cheerfully in his soliloquy.  “It makes me laugh to think of Spener’s Journal.  I, myself, advised Mr. Krause to conceal himself, and the good man faithfully followed my advice.  Perhaps the little old gentleman dreams that I am at this moment sitting by my fireside, while there is so much matter for my newspaper here.  Good matter, too, that can be moulded into an interesting article, is not so common that it can be carelessly squandered.  Sleep, therefore, sleep, good Spener—­the Vossian wakes.”

But Spener did not sleep.  He was at the opposite pillar, smirking and saying to himself, “How lucky it is that I have anticipated the Vossian!” He then was silent, but his thoughts were active, and in the bottom of his heart he instituted some very serious reflections upon the superfluousness of a second newspaper, how perfectly unnecessary it was in fact.

“This Vossian Gazette is perfectly intolerable,” thought he.  “There ought to be a law prohibiting the publishing of more than one newspaper in each town.  Then the public would always get reliable news, and draw its political opinions from one source, which would be undoubted, and it would accept as true what we gave forth for truth.  If the government would follow this plan, and allow only one newspaper to each town, and conciliate this one with money or patronage, mankind would be much happier and more contented, and less liable to be distracted by the most opposite political views and information.  What profits the existence of this Vossian Gazette?  What does it do but rob me of my subscribers?  By Heavens!  I wish the Russian would exterminate it thoroughly.”

While Mr. Krause was thus speaking to himself, Mr. Kretschmer had followed the same course of thought, and, very naturally, arrived at a similar conclusion.  He, too, had to confess that Spener’s Journal was very inconvenient, and hated its editor from the bottom of his heart.  In the vehemence of his vexation, he overlooked the necessary precaution, and cried out, “Cursed be this rival, this man who has the presumption to imagine he can compete with me!”

Mr. Krause shuddered at the sound of this voice, which seemed to him as it were the echo of his own unspoken thoughts, but he mastered his alarm, and cried aloud, “Did any one speak?” “Did any one speak?” sounded back again, and two heads were seen protruding from the pillars on each side of the gate, the eyes in them inquiringly peering at each other.  The morning in the mean while had become lighter, and, with an inward shudder, the two gentlemen recognized each other.

“It is Spener’s!  May the devil take him!” thought Mr. Kretschmer.

“It is the Vossian!  Damn the fellow!” thought Mr. Krause.