"That's a pity, and our townspeople will be wofully disappointed. To tell you the truth, I've done nothing all morning but receive deputations asking me to offer you a public banquet. Every class of the community is excited, and the students are talking of a torchlight procession."
"That settles it, Mr. Finsen, I must go now in any case."
"You are too modest, Mr. Christiansson. But perhaps you don't know the way. And then look at the clouds--a snowstorm is coming."
"I know every inch of the way, and the snowstorm, if it is not too heavy, will only add to my pleasure."
"If it is not too heavy! Believe me, there's nothing in the world more miserable than being caught in a blinding snowstorm on the Moss Fell Heath. But if you must you must, sir, and if you have a particular reason for going it is not for me to keep you back."
"It is late, Mr. Finsen, and the days are short--I must get off immediately."
"I'll send for ponies without delay, sir. You'll want two--one for yourself, the other for your pony-boy. You'll be back in a few days, I trust, so you'll leave your baggage behind you."
The pony-boy with the ponies came round at noon, and by that time, the report of Christiansson's departure having passed through the town, a number of the townspeople had gathered at the gate to see him off. Among them were Palsson the banker, Oddsson the merchant, Zimsen the captain, Jonsson the chairman of the Town Board, and (most surprising of all) the Factor.
There was a tingling atmosphere of unsatisfied curiosity in the little crowd, for rumor of the two hundred thousand crowns had passed from lip to lip, and people were asking who the stranger was, who his father had been, and what he could want with so much money. When Christian Christiansson, in his long blue ulster and close-fitting fur cap, came out of the house, and parted from his host and hostess at the porch, he seemed to be in high spirits, for he saluted everybody at the gate, and mentioned most of the company by name.
This intensified the curiosity, and amid a running fire of chaff and laughter the bolder ones began to probe with questions.