" So 1 " said Slusuhr in an insolent way
to Axel, and winked towards the burgo-
meister, " we have got at the brandy, if
we could only get at the money I "

" Herr Notary, write I " said the burgo-
meister, quietly and with dignity, and
pointed with his finger to his place : " The
day-laborer, Regel, is brought in, admon-
ished to tell the truth, and gives evi-
dence."

" Herr Burgomeister," said Axel, spring-
ing up, "I don't see what this brandy
story has to do with my money. The
fellow has stolen it 1 "

"That is just what I want to find out,"
said the burgomeister, very quietly,
" whether he has stolen or, more properly,
embezzled the money, and whether he was



150



SEED-TIME AND HARVEST.
altogether in a condition to do such a
thing," and going up to the young Herr
he said, very kindly, but also very de-
cidedly , " Herr von Rambow, a thief, who
intends to steal two thousand thalers, does
not begin by getting drunk. Moreover, I
must tell you, that as a magistrate, I have
to consider not only your interests, but
also tho3e of the accused/'

The day-laborer, Regel, came in. He
was deadly pale ; but the distress which
he had shown in his whole manner, before
the old inspector, in the afternoon, had
left him, he looked almost like old oaken
wood, into which no worm ventures.
