"But the emperor has appointed commissioners, who go from place to place, and inspect the crops."
"Yes they came hither, and they came to all of us—did they not, my lords?"
"Yes, yes!" cried a chorus of merry noblemen.
"But they found nothing—nothing but a few hundred florins that glided, unaccountably, into their hands, and caused them to abscond in a hurry. This people-loving emperor deserves the eternal gratitude of his commissioners, for although they found no corn for him, they found an abundance of gold for themselves."
Josephi colored violently, and his whole frame trembled. His hand clutched the wine-glass which he held, and he seemed to breathe with difficulty.
No one observed it. The company were excited by wine, and their senses were dim and clouded. But for this sumptuous dinner, at which he had indulged himself too far, the freiherr would never have betrayed the secret of his overflowing barns.
Josephi, meanwhile, controlled his indignation, and spoke again. "So, freiherr, you all reject my proposal."
"I do. God be praised, I have enough and to spare!"
"Then, gentlemen." continued the baron, "I offer it to any one of you. You are all from this unhappy district, and some one of you must be in need of grain."
"We are the freiherr's neighbors, and have borrowed his wisdom," said one of the company, "and I can answer for all present that they are well provided."