"I will thrash him!" roared the mill-owner.
Seeing his excitement, and guessing that a stick in Adler's hand might have deplorable results, the pastor pacified him.
"My dear Gottlieb, that is quite unnecessary. Leave it to me, and I will tell Ferdinand either not to come to our house, or to behave in a decent and Christian way."
"Johann!" shouted the manufacturer, and when the footman appeared he continued without softening his voice: "Send to the town at once for Ferdinand. I will flog the scoundrel!"
The footman looked amazed and frightened, but the pastor gave him a knowing look, and the sagacious Johann went out.
"Dear Gottlieb," said Boehme, "Ferdinand is too old to be flogged with a stick, or even to be reprimanded too violently. Excessive severity will not only fail to improve him, but may cause him to lay hands on his own life; he is an ambitious boy."
This remark had a sudden effect on Adler. He opened his eyes wide and fell back into a chair.
"What is that you are saying, Martin?" he gasped. "Johann! Water!"
Johann brought the water, and the old man calmed down by degrees. He gave no more orders to fetch Ferdinand.
"Yes, the madcap might do such a thing," he whispered in depression, and dropped his head on his chest.