"What do you wish me to do?"
"Speak yourself;" and David drew back, jogging Speidel-Röttmann's arm.
"What I want," began the latter, repeatedly stroking his closely cropped head with his hand, as if wishing to give a token of respect by pulling off an imaginary hat—"What I want, and I have not a word to say against it, is that the Herr Pastor should marry Adam to Martina this afternoon."
"Oh! that is delightful!" exclaimed the Pastorin, while Adam came forward, holding Martina's hand, and said—
"Yes, Herr Pastor, we earnestly beg you will."
"Yes, we humbly beg it," repeated Martina, in a low voice.
"Gently, gently," said the Pastor, in an authoritative tone, "you two young people, follow me to my room."
He went first, and the two followed him.
"Sit down," said the Pastor, when they were in his study—then he continued: "Adam, probably because you are the richest man in all the country, and can help yourself out of a full purse, without even thinking. What will it cost? you may imagine that whatever you choose can be done at once; you are proud of your strength, because you can knock down a horse, or kill a wolf with your stick: do you suppose that you are, therefore, entitled to imagine that where you are concerned, there are no laws or sacred injunctions, that cannot be abrogated when you wish it?"—
The Pastor paused, and Adam began—