“And did you put the thirty-øre tithe in the bowl, as I ordered?”
Fru Egholm felt instinctively that it would be best to insist that the money had been put in the bowl. But another and stronger instinct led her at this most unfortunate moment to hold forth in protest against the giving of tithes at all, and more especially tithe of moneys received on pawned effects. And very soon she had floundered into a slough of argument that led no way at all.
Egholm strode fuming up and down the room.
“You didn’t put it in at all.”
“I did. To the last øre.”
Now this was perfectly true. The money had been put in....
“Then you must have stolen it again after.”
“God wouldn’t have it, I know. It’s blood money.”
“Wouldn’t He? He shall—I’ll see that He does! You’ve stolen money from the Lord! What have you done with it?”