o see
whether the matter could not be settled. Marem did so, but with an eye
to his private interests. He procured an acquaintance to spread the
report that the manor-house farmer had succeeded in having an imperial
commission appointed to come to Nordstetten and remain there until the
matter was finally adjudicated, at the expense of the losing party.
Then he went himself to the leading spirits, and told them that for a
certain compensation he would bring about a compromise, though it would
be no easy matter. Thus he secured a perquisite from both parties. But
what is the use of all this fine man[oe]uvring, when you have men to
deal with who act like bears and spoil the most exact calculations with
their savage ferocity?

[Illustration: Marem secured a perquisite from both parties.]

Old Staufer now came to Nordstetten, and Marem with him. They went to
the inn, accompanied by the manor-house farmer, "to meet the spokesmen
of the village.

"Good-morning, squire," said the assembled guests to the three men as
they entered, acting as if no one but old Staufer himself had come. The
latter started at this, but called for two bottles of wine, filled his
glass, and drank the health of the company, jingling his glass against
the glasses of the others. But Ludwig the locksmith replied, "Thank
you, but we can't drink. No offence, squire, but we never drink till
after the bargain is made. What the rich gentlemen-farmers of Baisingen
do is more than we can say."

The squire took his glass from his lips and sighed deeply. He then went
to business with much calmness; dwelt upon the folly of throwing away
one's dearly-bought earnings to "those blood-suckers," the lawyers,
reminded the company that every lawsuit eat out of one's dish and
skimmed the marrow-fat from one's soup, and concluded by saying that a
little allowance here and a little allowance there would bring about a
peace.

Each party now proposed a composition; but the two propositions were
far apart. Marem did all he could to bring them nearer to each other.
He took aside first the one and then the other, to whisper something
into their ears. At length he took upon himself, in the teeth of
objections made on both sides, to fix a sum. He pulled them all by the
sleeves and coat-tails, and even tried to force their hands into each
other.

After much wrangling, the manor-house farmer said, "Sooner than take
such a beggar's bit as that, I'll make you a present of the w