ed to meet.

A short time after, however, he heard from an acquaintance who had
traveled that road, that at Tronka Castle his horses were still being
used for work in the fields exactly like the Squire's other horses.
Through the midst of the pain caused by beholding the world in a state
of such monstrous disorder, shot the inward satisfaction of knowing
that from henceforth he would be at peace with himself.

He invited a bailiff, who was his neighbor, to come to see him. The
latter had long cherished the idea of enlarging his estate by
purchasing the property which adjoined it. When he had seated himself
Kohlhaas asked him how much he would give for his possessions on
Brandenburg and Saxon territory, for house and farm, in a lump,
immovable or not.

Lisbeth, his wife, grew pale when she heard his words. She turned
around and picked up her youngest child who was playing on the floor
behind her. While the child pulled at her kerchief, she darted glances
of mortal terror past the little one's red cheeks, at the
horse-dealer, and at a paper which he held in his hand.

The bailiff stared at his neighbor in astonishment and asked him what
had suddenly given him such strange ideas; to which the horse-dealer,
with as much gaiety as he could muster, replied that the idea of
selling his farm on the banks of the Havel was not an entirely new
one, but that they had often before discussed the subject together. As
for his house in the outskirts of Dresden--in comparison with the farm
it was only a tag end and need not be taken into consideration. In
short, if the bailiff would do as he wished and take over both pieces
of property, he was ready to close the contract with him. He added
with rather forced pleasantry that Kohlhaasenbrueck was not the world;
that there might be objects in life compared with which that of taking
care of his home and family as a father is supposed to would be a
secondary and unworthy one. In a word, he must tell him that his soul
was intent upon accomplishing great things, of which, perhaps, he
would hear shortly. The bailiff, reassured by these words, said
jokingly to Kohlhaas' wife, who was kissing her child repeatedly,
"Surely he will not insist upon being paid immediately!" Then he laid
his hat and cane, which he had been holding between his knees, on the
table, and taking the paper, which the horse-dealer was holding in his
hand, began to read. Kohlhaas, moving closer to him, explained that it
w