“I protest against such treatment; I shall remain!” exclaimed Stechapfel.
“You can protest as long as you wish; it becomes you very well, for you are a New Protestant!” replied Keller indifferently. “But remain here you cannot!”
“The government has sent me as pastor to this village, and I shall maintain my right to the position!” exclaimed the Old Catholic.
“Bah! the government! That is New Protestant nonsense! If you were a Catholic, you would know that the government has no right to dispose of ecclesiastical offices. Offices of the church are bestowed by the church. Therefore, you must go! Where is your hat?”
“This is an outrage; it is nothing less than violence!”
“There, take your hat! I ask you whether you will leave voluntarily?”
“No; I will not go!”
“Well, then, we will accompany you until you are out of the village,” said Keller; and he put his arm under that of Stechapfel, while Ewald executed the same manœuvre on the other side. In vain did the intruder resist. The strong men took him out of the house, across the yard, and through the village. The people of Weselheim stood around and laughed at the comical scene.
“Whom have you there?” asked a passer-by.
“We have here an Old Catholic New Protestant who has strayed away from Bavaria. We are now showing him the way out of the village.”