"But we cannot change it," said Herr Frank; "we cannot send the poor away without deeply offending Klingenberg. But I esteem him the more for his generosity."
After dinner the father and son went into the garden and talked of various matters; suddenly Richard stopped and pointing over to Salingen, said,
"I passed to-day that neat building that stands near the road. Who lives there?"
"There lives the noble and lordly Herr Siegwart," said Herr Frank derisively.
His tone surprised Richard. He was not accustomed to hear his father speak thus.
"Is Siegwart a noble?"
"Not in the strict sense. But he is the ruler of Salingen. He rules in that town as absolutely as princes formerly did in their kingdoms."
"What is the cause of his influence?"
"His wealth, in the first place; secondly, his charity; and lastly, his cunning."
"You are not favorable to him?"