ice,
"You too are already there! Well! You have at last got the better of
me. This is what you have been driving at this long time. I am now
lying here, and all is over, all is found out; there are no more
questions and answers, no more todays and tomorrows. How it will fare
with you remains to be seen hereafter. Not well most undoubtedly. So
don't triumph in your imaginary virtue."

He beckoned and made the priest bring him a paper that was lying in
the window. "Give this to the old man of the mountain," he then went
on; "he will see from it how I loved him; for it is my will."

The priest now said a few words, begging to be left alone with the
sick man. Edward was glad to leave the room and refresh himself in the
open air. Here Conrad again ran up to him out of breath, and cried ...
"Confusion worse confounded! Only think what he has been doing, our
virtuous Eleazar! his last loaf has already been baked for him. Look
you, this fellow, this lord and master of the country, this son-in-law
of the old man of the mountain, is a scurvy thief ... Now I will
forgive that white-faced Hungarian wretch for serving me as he did the
other day; for what is all the reputation in the earth, all the honour
in the world come to?"

The whole neighbourhood, town and country, was in consternation at
this event. The most incredible thing in the world had taken place, a
crime that could neither be denied nor concealed, committed by a man
whom all had been forced to regard with respect, whom all had lookt
upon as their future master and protector; and they could not recover
from their astonishment, or fall back into their ordinary occupations;
for their minds in this turmoil had for a while lost every standard by
which a man measures himself.

The old man amid the general tumult had already learnt the whole
story, in spite of the pains Edward had taken to prevent it. He had
lockt himself up in his room and let nobody in.

Edward now interrogated the stranger. This man had for a long time had
dealings with Eleazar; he lived in a town a good many miles off, and
had often sent agents up the mountains and helpt in selling the stolen
goods. A tradesman in another small town was also a party in the
affair. The Hungarian had quarelled with Eleazar, and had come up into
these parts with a view of going to old Balthasar, sounding him, and,
if he found him inclined to pay well for it, disclosing the whole
history of the abominable transaction. B