While they were still standing there one of the young wretches caught sight of them from the gutter, and quickly fighting his way out of the throng ran up to them, whining for something to buy bread.
The boy had handsome dark eyes, with a pathetic look in them, and before Johann could warn him the King impulsively put his hand into his pocket and drew forth the largest silver coin he could find. The boy, who had perhaps never handled so much money at once in his life, actually tore it from Maximilian’s fingers, and set up a wild yell, half of triumph, half of derision at the King’s folly in parting with the coin. Drawn by the sound, the whole ragged crew came rushing up and beset the King; while the first boy darted off for his life, to conceal his spoil from the thievish violence of his companions.
For some time the King and Johann strove in vain to beat off the swarm, who surrounded them on all sides, uttering threats and curses and entreaties all together, while some of the more reckless made attempts to pick their pockets. A group of drunken men noticed what was going on, and encouraged the lads, one or two of the younger men even coming up and assuming a threatening demeanour on the edge of the crowd, as if to intimidate the two victims from resistance.
At last one of the stall-keepers had his attention drawn to the row, and undertook to quell it, fearing possibly that his trade might suffer if scenes of open violence were allowed in the market. Taking up a long leather strap, he strode into the middle of the struggling mass of boys, and lashed them right and left with cruel force. The wretches instantly recognised a master, and fled in all directions, leaving Maximilian little less shocked at the brutality of his rescuer than grateful for the deliverance.
“Was it necessary to cut so hard?” he ventured to say, after thanking the man.
“The young vermin! Yes, and not half so hard as they deserve. They are thieves, the whole lot of them, and they will get worse as they grow older. It would be a good thing if the government would make short work of them!” And he turned towards his stall.
Maximilian followed him, reluctant to part with one who had, in his brutal way, done him a kindness.
“Are there no schools to which these boys could be sent?” he asked.
“Schools! Plenty of schools; but how do you expect to get them there, unless you send an officer for them every day? And even then they would hide themselves out of his reach. Besides, what could you do with them if you got them in a school? They would only make the other boys as bad as themselves. A prison is the sort of school they want.”
The King turned away discouraged. Johann whispered in his ear—