arriage. Therefore let him and me
perish, in God's name; I can never be yours."

She took her child by the hand, and departed slowly with him up the
street, towards the market-place.

"Again nothing!" grumbled Christopher to himself; "the Netherlandress,
too, won't have me now. Had I known that it would have been the same
here, I hardly think that I should have helped to play this trick. But
a woman would, at any time, talk over God himself, and make him sin
against his own commandments. How have I burthened my conscience, and
at least one-half to no purpose!--The Devil take all women! If it were
not for the housekeeping, and the tricks of servants, I would not ask
after them, but remain a widower all my life long. In the unmarried
state one can lay out so much upon one's self, and save into the
bargain; and when at last I have buried my father--who can't hold out
much longer with his constant passions--I shall be a substantial man,
and laugh at every one.--Good Heavens!"

With this cry he broke off his noble soliloquy; for before him, on a
sudden, stood the town-executioner, in his red cloak of office, and,
from his thin yellow face, the dark eyes gleamed on Christopher with a
savage joy appropriate to this day of horror. All this was in itself
quite natural, but Christopher's conscience smote him hardly at the
sight, and he felt as if the hideous being had taken the trouble to
come there only on his account.

"Is the worshipful burgomaster above?" asked the executioner, with
infinite courteousness and his hat off to the son of his superior. From
sheer fright, Christopher was unable to reply; he simply pointed to the
steps, stammered out, "Above!" and, creeping out of the street-door by
him with as much speed as if he felt the sword at his neck, he hurried
off.

* * * * *

In the city-marshal's room, below the custom-house, the noble Tausdorf
was still kneeling before the chaplain, who administered the sacrament
to him, and blessed him for death. The priest then retired, but his
clerk, instead of following, barred the door behind him again, advanced
to Tausdorf, who just then was rising from the ground, and asked, in a
familiar voice, "Do you know me?"

"Rasselwitz!" cried Tausdorf, surprised. "You have crept in, thus
disguised, to bid me farewell for this world. That is bravely done of
you, and I thank you heartily for your love."

"I have something more important in my tho