The so-called common people who had testified now came in. This was, to be sure, no company for Landolin, but he could not do less than give the poor fellows a good bite and a good drink. He asked what the witness fee was, and when he heard how small it was, he said he would like to double it, but he dared not, lest it should be said that he had tried to bribe them. By this speech he sought to ingratiate himself with these people at no expense to himself. Tobias nudged Peter with his elbow, and laughed and drank. Peter cast a look at him as though he would like to tear him to pieces, then quickly controlled himself and joined in the laugh. His face wore the expression of a young fox who has just caught his first hare, and is feasting upon it. Among the guests were some who had been Landolin's companions when he was young; and they strove to divert him by reminding him of his wild, youthful pranks. Landolin laughed and drank immoderately. The lawyer did not find it congenial, so he slipped quietly away. Landolin's eyes often fell upon the empty chair at his side, but he looked quickly away. Suddenly he called out, "Take away that empty chair! Who the devil is going to sit there? Take it away! Away with it!" He jumped up and overturned it with such force that all the four legs were broken. "You oughtn't to do that father. Be quiet!" whispered Peter, sternly, and roughly grasped his father's arm. "Let go! I'm all right," said Landolin, quieting down. "Come, Tobias, come with me! Indeed I have not drunk too much to-day, but I have gone through so much that its almost upset me. Here, Tobias, let me lean a little on you. Good night to you all. I hope you will get home all right. I shall soon follow you." He went up to his room with Tobias, and as soon as he got there he caught tight hold of Tobias' arms and cried: "Be still! I won't hurt you. Not you! You haven't deserved it. Do you know what I long for? Do you know what I wish?" "How can I know it?" "I'd like to have one of 'em between my thumb and finger, like this, so--Hutadi! I'd like to snap and crack his arms and legs. I'd like best to get at Titus--or all of the six--they ought to have been unanimous--the cursed--" "Let me go, master," begged Tobias, for the grip of his hand was far from gentle; "and I advise you to keep quieter. You can say anything you like to me. What we two have got through together, can't be undone." The situation dawned upon Landolin. He, the farmer, was reproved by his own servant. "All right, all right," he muttered and soon fell sound asleep. CHAPTER XXXVII.