It was almost noon when Landolin awoke. He prepared for his journey
home, and paid his bill. It was very evident that the landlord had
cheated him. He was greatly vexed at being taken in by this plausible
fellow, but he did not want an open quarrel. The thought that, for some
time to come, he must allow himself to be cheated without daring to say
anything, worried him more than the loss of his money. He now wished to
return home immediately, and enter the village in triumph; but Peter
put off going until near evening; for he did not want his father to
reach home until after dark; and when Landolin swore at the unnecessary
delays, Peter said, coolly and meaningly:
"Father, you will have to give up fussing and spluttering so. I should
think you would have learned, by this time, to keep quiet and be
patient. Yes, you may well stare at me. I am no longer the simple
Peter, over whose head you looked, as though he didn't exist. I am
here, and you and I have no secrets from one another. Self-defense is a
nice thing, but--well I guess you understand me. Of course I have great
respect for you. You drove the cart well, and Tobias and I pushed at
the hind-wheels. The cart is out of the rut, and now we'll wash our
hands."
Landolin looked at his son as though another man were standing before
him. Peter noticed it, and continued:
"Yes, father, I've found out what the mainspring of the world is; and I
know that it's all one what a man does. He can do what he likes, if he
only keeps other people from knowing it. Am I right, or not?"
Landolin was so astonished that he could not utter a word. Who dare
speak to him in such a way? Can it be Peter! But something still worse
followed; for Peter began again:
"Now, see here, father; before we go home we'd better have matters
settled. You are the farmer; you are the master. And before the world
you may appear as you always have; but at home, in house and field,
only my word must be obeyed. You may be sure that you shall want for
nothing."
"Where is Tobias?" asked Landolin, gnashing his teeth.
"You needn't halloo so; I'm not deaf. I sent Tobias home before us; and
I might as well tell you at once, that I shall dismiss him soon. He
knows too much, and puts on too many airs. Moreover, I intend to send
away all of the servants. I'm going to lay a new foundation."
Landolin kept silent, but smiled. He was incensed at Peter's
impertinence, yet he could not repress his delight that his son had
become so fearless and resolute.
"I could almost be proud of you, you have changed so," he said, at
length. And Peter cried exultingly:
"That's right. You shall see that I'll do everything right; and that
I'll do the right thing by you. I find that we've been losing a big
pile of money in speculation, but that's past and done with, and I'll
say nothing more about it."
Landolin kept his wrath down, and thought: "Just wait till we get home,
then I'll talk to you differently."
Father and son spoke not a word after this. A wagon was waiting at the
depot in the city; and Landolin asked his wife, who with tears in her
eyes came to meet him: "Where is Thoma?" He was told that she would not
come.
Landolin thought to himself: "I am acquitted, but my children----. My
son wants to depose me, and my daughter will not even come to meet me."
In the meadow near the station was an unfinished platform, and though
it was twilight, the men were still hammering busily.
"What are they doing?" asked Landolin; and before an answer could be
given, he continued: "I remember, when I was a child, that a scaffold
was built there, and a man beheaded on it. Beheading is not the worst
thing in the world."
"Oh! husband!" replied his wife. "What strange thoughts! Peter, don't
you know what they are doing?"
"Certainly; certainly. Next Sunday the soldiers have their
celebration."
As the wagon drove past the garden of the Sword inn, a number of ladies
and gentlemen were looking down from the veranda. Landolin raised his
hat and bowed, but no one returned the salutation; and, for the first
time in his life, he tasted the bitter experience of stretching out his
hand in greeting, and of finding no hand ready to take it.