t. He added, picking his way over
the puddle to the chamberlain, who stood dumb with astonishment, that
he must get a knacker's boy to perform such an office for him. The
chamberlain, who, foaming with rage, gazed for a moment at Himboldt,
turned round, and called after the guard over the heads of the knights
who were about him. As soon as, by the order of Baron von Wenk, an
officer with some electoral troopers had made his appearance from the
castle, he desired him, after briefly setting forth the shameful acts
of rebellion which the burghers of the city ventured on, instantly to
take the ringleader, Master Himboldt, into custody. Then seizing
Himboldt by the collar, he accused him of flinging away from the cart
the servant who, by his orders, was unbinding the horses, and otherwise
ill-using him. Master Himboldt, throwing off the chamberlain with a
dexterous twist, said: "Gracious sir, telling a fellow of twenty what
he ought to do, is not inciting him to rebellion. Ask him whether,
against all usage and propriety, he will meddle with those horses that
are tied up to the cart. If he will, after what I have told him--why,
be it so! For all that I care, he may flay them on the spot if he
pleases." Upon this the chamberlain turned round to the servant, and
asked him whether he had any objection to fulfil his commands; namely,
to untie Kohlhaas's horses, and take them home. The lad, timidly
slinking among the burghers, answered that the horses must be made
decent before he could do any thing of the sort; whereupon the
chamberlain darted after him, tore off his hat, which bore the badge of
his house, trampled it under foot, drew his sword, and hunting the
fellow about with furious strokes of the blade, made him at once quit
the spot and his service together. "Strike the ruffian to the ground!"
shouted Master Himboldt, and while the burghers indignant at the
spectacle, combined together and forced away the guard, he knocked down
the chamberlain from behind, tore off his mantle, collar, and helmet,
twisted the sword out of his hand, and furiously flung it to a
distance. In vain did Squire Wenzel, saving himself from the tumult,
call on the knights to assist his cousin; before they could advance a
step they were dispersed by the pressure of the people, so that the
chamberlain, who had hurt his head by the fall, was exposed to all the
fury of the mob. Nothing could have saved him but the appearance of a
troop of so