Just then master-tailor Seubolt, the guardian of Ortel and his sister,
who were in service at the Ortlieb mansion, approached the Town Hall.
No one could have supposed that the tall, grey-headed man with the bowed
back, who was evidently nearing sixty, really meant to make a young girl
like Metz Vorkler his wife. Besides, he assumed a very humble, modest
demeanour when, passing through the vaulted entrance of the Town Hall,
which stood open to every citizen, he approached Herr Ernst to ask,
with many bows and humble phrases, for the permission, which he had been
refused at the Ortlieb house, to remove his wards from a place which
their mother, as well as he himself, felt sure--he had supposed that the
"Honourable" would have no objection--would be harmful to them in both
body and soul.

Surprised and indignant, but perfectly calm, Herr Ernst had requested
him to tell him whatever he had to say at a more convenient time. But
as the tailor insisted that the matter would permit no delay, he invited
him to step aside with him, in order not to make the councillors who
were with him witnesses of the unpleasant discussion.

Seubolt, however, seemed to have no greater desire than to be heard
by as many people as possible. Raising his voice to a very loud tone,
though he still maintained an extremely humble manner, he began to give
the reasons which induced him, spite of his deep regret, to remove
his wards from the Ortlieb house. And now, sheltering himself behind
frequent repetitions of "As people say" and "Heaven forbid that I should
believe such things," he began to relate what the most venomous slander
had dared to assert concerning the beautiful Es.

For a time Herr Ernst had forced himself to listen quietly to this
malicious abuse of those whom he held dearest, but at last it became too
much for the quick-tempered man. The tailor had ventured to allude to
Jungfrau Els "who certainly had scarcely given full cause for such evil
slander" in words which caused even the councillors standing near to
contradict him loudly, and induced Herr Pfinzing, who had just come up,
to beckon to the city soldiers. At that instant the blood mounted to the
insulted father's brain, and the misfortune happened; for as the tailor,
with an unexpected gesture of the arm he was flourishing, brushed Herr
Ernst's cap, the latter, fairly insane with rage, snatched the pike
from one of the men who, obeying Herr Pfinzing's signal, were just
approachi