"And might have done worse! Old Reinheit's got a fine stocking of gold somewhere, and look at his farm," said the tailor.
"Lay not up for yourselves——" began the pastor.
"That's all very well!" said the tailor. "But a good-looking wench, even if she has got a devil, is none the worse for having a rich father. She didn't lay up the treasure. Besides, I wouldn't give half a batz for a woman who hadn't got a bit of the devil in her."
"Come! come! Jacob!" said the pastor. "Your tongue speaketh of vanity as your trade does. As for Nicholas Reinheit, I shall even go up to his house and comfort him."
"Well!" said the smith. "It is only just and manly so to do, but look after your skin, for he is a man who can still use his hands if he is a bit over sixty."
A good many people met Pastor Rad as he went through the town to Nicholas Reinheit's farm, and every one of them asked him—
"Where is Elspeth Reinheit?"
And some careless people even put it in this way—
"What have you done with Elspeth Reinheit?"
It was bad enough to be asked where she was. It was iniquitous that he should be taxed with having put her away.