Part 19 (1/2)
”They were all invited, but they seem to have slipped into the ground and vanished.”
The first to arrive was Landolin's lawyer. He seemed far from being elated with his victory; and in Landolin's manner toward him there was by no means the same dependence and helplessness as before. Then Landolin had treated him as a very sick man does his physician; every word and every glance were welcomed as though fraught with healing. Now Landolin was an ungrateful convalescent, who has come to the conclusion that he has not been sick at all; or, at any rate, that not the physician, but his own good const.i.tution has helped him through.
”You are right,” said his counsel, ”you should have been a lawyer. Your last words turned the scale. It was a master stroke.”
Landolin accepted this praise as his due, and made no reply.
”Call Anton! Where is Anton?” said he, turning to his son.
”When I was sending the dispatch I met him at the depot. He went home on the freight train, which usually takes no pa.s.sengers; but the conductor is an old comrade of his, and smuggled him on board.”
Landolin whistled, and walked hastily around the table, on which they were just placing the wine-bottles.
”Landlord, bring in the supper. Herr Procurator, take this chair beside me. So, this is a different way of sitting down together. I invited all the jurymen,--all. I don't want to know who said guilty, or who said not guilty. I don't want to have an enemy in the world. If they don't come--all right. I've shown how I feel, and that's enough. Landlord, let the witnesses come in, and anybody else that's there. Be sure and call Tobias.”
Tobias soon appeared. To be sure he had just eaten in the hostler's room; but he wiped his mouth, as though he would say, ”If it's necessary I'll do it again.” So he sat down next to Peter, and fell bravely to work.
The so-called common people who had testified now came in. This was, to be sure, no company for Landolin, but he could not do less than give the poor fellows a good bite and a good drink. He asked what the witness fee was, and when he heard how small it was, he said he would like to double it, but he dared not, lest it should be said that he had tried to bribe them. By this speech he sought to ingratiate himself with these people at no expense to himself.
Tobias nudged Peter with his elbow, and laughed and drank. Peter cast a look at him as though he would like to tear him to pieces, then quickly controlled himself and joined in the laugh. His face wore the expression of a young fox who has just caught his first hare, and is feasting upon it.
Among the guests were some who had been Landolin's companions when he was young; and they strove to divert him by reminding him of his wild, youthful pranks. Landolin laughed and drank immoderately. The lawyer did not find it congenial, so he slipped quietly away. Landolin's eyes often fell upon the empty chair at his side, but he looked quickly away. Suddenly he called out, ”Take away that empty chair! Who the devil is going to sit there? Take it away! Away with it!” He jumped up and overturned it with such force that all the four legs were broken.
”You oughtn't to do that father. Be quiet!” whispered Peter, sternly, and roughly grasped his father's arm.
”Let go! I'm all right,” said Landolin, quieting down. ”Come, Tobias, come with me! Indeed I have not drunk too much to-day, but I have gone through so much that its almost upset me. Here, Tobias, let me lean a little on you. Good night to you all. I hope you will get home all right. I shall soon follow you.”
He went up to his room with Tobias, and as soon as he got there he caught tight hold of Tobias' arms and cried:
”Be still! I won't hurt you. Not you! You haven't deserved it. Do you know what I long for? Do you know what I wish?”
”How can I know it?”
”I'd like to have one of 'em between my thumb and finger, like this, so--Hutadi! I'd like to snap and crack his arms and legs. I'd like best to get at t.i.tus--or all of the six--they ought to have been unanimous--the cursed--”
”Let me go, master,” begged Tobias, for the grip of his hand was far from gentle; ”and I advise you to keep quieter. You can say anything you like to me. What we two have got through together, can't be undone.”
The situation dawned upon Landolin. He, the farmer, was reproved by his own servant.
”All right, all right,” he muttered and soon fell sound asleep.
CHAPTER x.x.xVII.
It was almost noon when Landolin awoke. He prepared for his journey home, and paid his bill. It was very evident that the landlord had cheated him. He was greatly vexed at being taken in by this plausible fellow, but he did not want an open quarrel. The thought that, for some time to come, he must allow himself to be cheated without daring to say anything, worried him more than the loss of his money. He now wished to return home immediately, and enter the village in triumph; but Peter put off going until near evening; for he did not want his father to reach home until after dark; and when Landolin swore at the unnecessary delays, Peter said, coolly and meaningly:
”Father, you will have to give up fussing and spluttering so. I should think you would have learned, by this time, to keep quiet and be patient. Yes, you may well stare at me. I am no longer the simple Peter, over whose head you looked, as though he didn't exist. I am here, and you and I have no secrets from one another. Self-defense is a nice thing, but--well I guess you understand me. Of course I have great respect for you. You drove the cart well, and Tobias and I pushed at the hind-wheels. The cart is out of the rut, and now we'll wash our hands.”