been near those rooms for several days
before the burglary. And now, without being asked, he expressed his
conviction that Claus could have had no participation in the crime.

The huntsman got up at these words, and the forester, who sat behind
him, obliged him to sit down again, putting his hand upon his shoulder.

The evidence against Claus seemed to be only as the receiver of stolen
goods. The two others could make no defence, and each sought to lay
upon the other the guilt of the burglary.

Eric was recalled, in order to testify more in detail concerning the
huntsman's request to be shown all over the house, a few days before
the robbery. When Eric had sat down, Roland got up and asked:--

"Herr President, may I be permitted to say one word more?"

"Speak," replied the President encouragingly; "say all that you wish
to."

Roland stepped forward quickly, with head erect, and said, in a voice
that had now a full, manly tone,--

"I here raise my hand in testimony, that my poor brother here is as
innocent as he is poor. It is true he has often complained that one man
should starve while another gormandizes; but before God and man I
declare that he has often said to me: The hand must wither that grasps
unjust possessions. Can a man do that, and then go away by night and
break into another's house, and rob? I beseech you, I conjure you
earnestly, to declare that this man is as innocent as all of you are;
as innocent as I am!" He ceased, standing as if he were rooted to the
spot, and for a while there was a breathless stillness in the assembly.

"Have you any thing more to say?" asked the President. Roland seemed
now to wake up, and said,--

"No, nothing more. I thank you." He returned to Eric, who grasped his
hand; it was cold as ice, and he warmed it in his own. On the other
side, Knopf also tried to grasp the hand of his former pupil, but he
could not, for he was obliged to take off his spectacles, which had
become wet from the great tears rolling from his eyes.

The proceedings were brief. The Headmaster was one of the jury, who now
withdrew into their room for consultation. After a short absence they
returned, and the head-master, who had been chosen foreman, laying his
hand upon his heart, announced the unanimous verdict:--

The dwarf and the groom, guilty; the huntsman, not guilty.

Outside, in front of the court-house, as his wife and children,--the
cooper among them now,--crowded round Claus, Roland p