KURT
—Do you but crop this fellow's ears!—
VERONIKA [from the steps] Ah, Kurt!
JACOBUS
[to him, blandly]
Deal patiently, good neighbor. All is well.
[To the PIPER]
Why do you name a price so laughable,
My man? Call you to mind; you have no claim,—
No scrip to show. You cling upon—
PIPER [sternly] Your word.
JACOBUS
I, would say—just—
PIPER
Your word.
JACOBUS
Upon—
PIPER
Your word.
Sure, 't was a rotten parchment!
JACOBUS
This is a base,
Conniving miser!
PIPER
[turning proudly]
Stand forth, Cheat-the-Devil!
[Up steps the DEVIL in red. PEOPLE shrink, and then come closer.
Be not afeard. He pleased you all, of late.
He hath no sting.—So, boy! Do off thy head.—