collections that are not officially permitted." And he eyed
the box as if he had a notion to confiscate it.

Perhaps the lads noticed this, for they moved backward to the door and
suddenly disappeared from the room.

"I beg pardon, Herr Assessor," said Siegwart. "The Peter-pence is
collected in the whole Catholic world, and the Catholics of Salingen
thought they ought to assist the head of their church, who is so sorely
pressed, and who has been robbed of his possessions."

"I answer--the ordinances make no exceptions; the Peter-pence comes
under the ordinances. I find myself compelled to interpose against this
trespass."

"But the Peter-pence is collected in the whole country, Herr von Hamm!
Why, even in the public journals we read the results of this
collection, and I have never heard that the government forbade the
Peter-pence."

"Leave the government out of the question. I stand on my instructions.
The government forbids all collections unless permission is granted.
You must not expect an official to connive at an open breach of the
ordinances. I will do my duty and remind the burgomaster of Salingen
that he has not done his."

The occurrence was very annoying to Siegwart; this could be seen in his
troubled countenance. He thought of the reproof of the timid
burgomaster, and feared that the collection might in future be stopped.

"You have the authority, Herr Assessor, to permit it; I beg you will do
so."

"The request must be made in written official form," said Hamm. "You
know, Herr Siegwart, that I am disposed to comply with your wishes, but
I regret I cannot do so in the present case; and I must openly confess
I oppose the Peter-pence on principle. The temporal power of the pope
has become unnecessary. Why support an untenable dominion?"

"I consider the temporal power of the pope to be a necessity," said
Siegwart emphatically. "If the pope were not an independent prince, but
the subject of another ruler, he would in many things have to govern
the church according to the mind and at the command of his superior.
Sound common sense tells us that the pope must be free."

"Certainly, as far as I am concerned," returned Hamm. "But why drain
the money out of the country for an object that cannot be accomplished?
I tell you that the political standing of the bankrupt papal government
will not be saved by the Peter-pence."

"Permit me to observe, Herr Assessor, that I differ with you entirely.
The papal go