“No, no, Monsieur Doctor,” replied Ulphilas, “there are no kobolds here! This is a melancholy and accursed place, as you know; a place where the trolls of the lake come to disturb and spoil everything, like wicked spirits as they are, while the little kobolds are friendly to man, and only think of doing him good. The kobolds save, and do not waste. They never carry anything away—”
“On the contrary, they bring! I know all about that, Master Ulph; but how do you know that I have not a kobold of my own who came on here before me? Very likely he took the candle to light the fire, so that I might find a warm place on my arrival; and, knowing that you were a great coward, who would keep me waiting a long time, opened the doors beforehand. Now, he is all ready, no doubt, to help you about my supper, if you will only be as good as to attend to it, for you know kobolds don’t like lazy folks, and only wait upon those who show a disposition to help others.”
This explanation soothed, in a measure, the fears of his two auditors. Nils ventured to turn his great blue eyes upon the gloomy walls of the apartment, and Ulph, after giving the lawyer a key to the closet of the guard-room, went to prepare their supper.
“Well, Nils,” said the lawyer to his little servant, “we can scarcely see at all with this abominable lantern. You can make up the beds later; in the meanwhile, go and unpack my trunk. Put it on the table.”
“But, Monsieur Doctor,” said the child, “I cannot so much as lift it; it is heavy.”
“True,” replied the lawyer; “it is full of papers, and is very heavy.”
He himself took the trunk, and with a slight effort placed it upon a chair, adding,—
“At any rate, take the valise with my clothes. I have only brought what was necessary, and it is very light.”
Nils obeyed, but he could not open the padlock.
“I thought you were more skilful than that,” said the lawyer, becoming a little impatient; “your aunt told me—I am afraid my good Gertrude praised you rather too highly.”