"All right, you hear, four gold pieces, on account of the hard times," added Dietho. "The lady and her companion will also pay eight more, and each servant two pence, in all twelve gold pieces and twelve pennies! Little enough, too, if you but think what an army Frederic is organizing at present."
"As well as I remember," said Erwin, "the legal toll is a penny for each person. By what right do you raise it a hundredfold?"
"I told you once already," replied Dietho;--"it is because the times are hard."
"Besides, we are not here to give explanations to milk-sops," said a voice from within. "Pay, or leave the bridge!"
"Miserable hound! do you dare to speak thus to a knight?" cried Erwin, passionately. "Here are your twelve pennies; now clear the way!"
"The varlets may pass," said Dietho, coolly pocketing the money; "but for the others to cross this beautiful bridge, which has cost so much money to build, there are just twelve pieces too few!"
"If you do not do your duty at once," said the knight, laying his hand on his sword, "I will compel you."
At this, the guard burst into a loud laugh of derision.
"Come on then," they cried; "if that is your game, we will give you a lesson in arithmetic."
Rechberg was disposed to force the passage, but Bonello hastened to interfere.