"Fortunately, however, we, your faithful leudes, together with the footmen and the slaves whom we can safely arm, are as numerous as the men who compose the escort of Chram."
"Come, come, my good companions; do not heat yourselves, my friends. If any quarrels should break out at table, dishes will be broken, and they will have to be replaced. We must bear that in mind."
"Neroweg, honor is before dishes—even if the dish be of gold or silver."
"Certainly, but it is unnecessary to provoke a quarrel. Keep yourselves on your guard, and see to it that watch is kept at the door of the women's apartment—hand on sword."
"It will be done as you order."
A moment later Prince Chram and the count found themselves alone in the latter's treasure room. They were engaged in an important and serious conference.
"Count, how much are the treasures worth that are locked in these coffers?"
"Oh, they do not contain much—they are large on the principle that it is always well to be provided with a large pot and a big coffer, as we say in Germany, but they are almost empty."
"So much the worse, count. I wished to double, triple and even quadruple the value of their contents."
"Are you jesting?"