"Oh, your majesty," said the happy old man, "I shall die content for my children are provided for."
"Now we are rich," cried Kathi, "the best match in the village will be proud to marry either one of us."
The emperor, meanwhile, took out his pocket-book, and, tearing out a leaf, wrote some words upon it.
Folding the paper, he advanced to Marianne, and handing it to her, said:
"My dear child, when your father presents this paper to the marshal of my household, Count Rosenberg, he will give him in return for you five hundred florins."
"Five hundred florins!" exclaimed Kathi, with envious looks.
"Take the paper, Marianne," pleaded the emperor. "It is your dowry."
Marianne raised her tearful eyes, but her hands did not move to take the gift. She reflected for a moment, and then spoke.
"Five hundred florins," said she, "is not that a large sum?"
"It is, my child," replied Joseph.