"I am sorry to say," began the Justice, "I have bad news for you about this legacy business—very bad news indeed."
"Well, I've had nothing but trouble about it from the start," said Nils Petter, "so a little more won't make much difference."
"The legacy in question proves to be considerably less than was at first understood—in fact, I may say the amount is altogether insignificant."
"Well, it'll be something anyway, I suppose?" Nils Petter felt he ought to have a little at least for all his trouble.
"I have a cheque here for 760 gylden, and that, I am sorry to say, is all there is."
"Well, to tell the truth, Justice, I'm not sorry to hear it. I've been that pestered and worried with this legacy business, I'll be glad to see the last of it."
Nils Petter went round to the bank and changed his cheque; it came to 1140 crowns. Of this Pedersen received 200 for his secretarial work, Rordam another 200, the remainder was put in the bank as a separate account for little Rasper. Nils Petter and Jantje were glad to be rid of Sorgenfri, the brig, and the postman. The last named, it is true, still brought an occasional letter for "N. P. Jorgensen, Esquire," but Nils Petter never bothered to look at them.
And when Nils Petter set little Rasper on his shoulders and asked: "Which would you rather have, a million or a thrashing?" the boy invariably answered, "Thrashing," at which Nils Petter would laugh till it could be heard half-way down the street.