"I might answer as did the gypsy woman when her son asked for a piece of bread: 'You are always wanting what is not to be had.'"
"Do you mean that there are no men?"
"I mean," hastily interposed Herr Bernat, "that there are enough men, and horses, too; but the treasure-chest is empty, and the Aerar has not yet sent the promised subsidy."
"What care I about the Aerar and its money!" ejaculated Count Vavel, contemptuously. "I will supply the funds necessary to equip a company—and support them, into the bargain! And if the county needs money, my purse-strings are loose! I give everything that belongs to me—and myself, too—to this cause!"
He opened, as he spoke, a large iron chest that was fastened with iron bolts to the floor.
"Here, help yourself, Herr Vice-palatine!" he added, waving his hand toward the contents of the chest. It was a more wonderful sight than the arsenal itself. Rolls of gold coin, sacks of silver, filled the chest to the brim.
Herr Bernat could only stare in speechless amazement. He made no move to obey the behest to "help himself," whereupon Count Vavel himself thrust his hands into the chest, lifted what he could hold between them of gold and silver, and filled the vice-palatine's hat, which that worthy was holding in his hand.
"But—pray—I beg of you—" remonstrated Herr Bernat, "at least, let us count it."
"You can count it when you get home," interrupted Count Vavel.
"But I must give you a receipt for it."