they would have answered, "What do I care about
him? I am a peaceable citizen:" but upon this occasion, they raised
their voices, I and cried, "We'll open the gates to the Duke! away with
the Leaguists! Wuertemberg for ever!"

The moon shone bright on the assembled crowd, which waved to and fro in
restless motion, whilst a confused murmur seemed to indicate indecision
as to what was to be done, perhaps because no one was bold enough to
put himself forward on the occasion. Many heads looked out of the
windows of the gable-ended houses which surrounded the market-place;
they were the wives and families of the congregated citizens, listening
with intense anxiety to what was going on: for it must be observed that
the Stuttgardt ladies were in those days equally given to curiosity as
they now are, and in their hearts pitied the Duke.

The hum of voices became louder and louder, whilst the feeling which
ran through the crowd became more distinct. The cry "let's drive; the
soldiers from the gates, and open them to the Duke," passed from mouth
to mouth, when a tall, meagre-looking man was seen to spring up on a
stone bank which surrounded the fountain, whence he overlooked the
assemblage of burghers. He flourished his long arms about in the air,
opened his large mouth, and hallooed with all his might to obtain a
hearing. The noise about him having partially subsided, a few detached
words and sentences were heard by the immediate bystanders. "What! do
the honourable burghers of Stuttgardt intend to break the oath which
they have sworn to the League? To whom do you want to open the
gates--to the Duke? He can't have a very strong force with him, for he
has no money to pay them, and he will make you open your purses. If you
surrender to him, you will have ten thousand florins to pay. Do you
hear? ten thousand florins, I say!"

"Who is that lanky fellow?" the citizens asked one another. "He's
right," said one of them, "we shall have to pay handsomely."--"Is he a
citizen, that man up there?"--"Who are you?" said one of the boldest;
"how do you know we shall have to pay?"

"I am the renowned Doctor Calmus," said the speaker, with solemn voice,
"and am quite sure of it. And who do you want to drive away? The
Emperor, the Empire, the League? Will you run your heads against so
many rich lords? and why? for Duke Utz, who only throws dust in your
eyes! Do you forget his oppressive game laws, the least part of his
tyranny? He has no mo