"It must be something very important," said Frida, going to the window. "What is he doing to that laborer?"
"That is the day-laborer, Regel," said Franz, who was also looking out of the window.
"Regel! Regel!" said Axel, springing up, "that is the messenger that I sent to Rostock yesterday, with two thousand thalers in gold; he cannot be back so soon."
"That must be what has disconcerted the old man so," said Franz. "Only see, he is laying hands on the fellow! I never saw him so excited!" and he ran out of the door, and Axel after him.
As they came out the old inspector had seized the young, strong day-laborer in the breast, and shook him till his hat fell off into the snow.
"Those are lies!" cried he, as he shook him, "those are miserable lies! Herr von Rambow, this fellow has lost the money!"
"No, they took it from me!" cried the laborer, standing there, pale as death.
Axel also turned pale; the two thousand thalers should have been paid in Rostock, long ago, but he had delayed till the last moment, and then borrowed the sum of Pomuchelskopp,--and now it was gone.
"They are lies!" repeated Habermann, "I know the fellow. They took the money away from you by force? No ten fellows could take even a pipe of tobacco from you by force!" and he attacked him again.
"Hold!" cried Franz, coming between them. "Let the man just tell his story, quietly. How was it about the money?"