Titus handed Joergli a nail, and the lieutenant gave him a hammer. He nailed the flag to the flag-staff, and this widely visible act was more than the best speech; and he left the stand amid cheers and the sounds of trumpets. He immediately called for his wagon. He wished to go home, and no one dared urge him to remain. The four-horse wagon drove up the meadow. Landolin pushed his way up to it, and said, "Joergli, I will go home with you. Take me along." "Give my greetings to your wife," said Joergli, turning away from him. He let himself be helped into the wagon, and then drove away. The wheels were hardly heard on the meadow, and the people on both sides saluted reverently, as they made way for him. "How glad I should have been, if I could have sat in the wagon beside him!" thought Landolin. No one ever prayed--no one ever offered to an angel,--to a saint,--more childlike petitions than these--"Take me with you; deliver me from this misery,"--which had just passed Landolin's lips. But in these days the best are no longer good, and have no pity. When Joergli had gone the merriment began anew. They invited one another to drink, and new groups were soon formed. Only Landolin was not invited. He stood alone. Stop! Landolin struck his hand on his pocket, and the money jingled. With that a man can call a comrade who will talk with him better than any one else, and make him forget his cares. He turned away from the meadow, and went to the city side of the Sword Inn. There were no guests there to-day. An old servant brought him wine. He drank alone, and had his glass refilled again and again. As he still wanted every one to consider him of great importance, he explained to the old waitress that he was going to a bathing place for his health pretty soon. There they wouldn't let a man drink anything but mineral water, and so he was going to take plenty of wine before he went. The old waitress said that was wise, and then returned to the illustrated paper which she had brought down from the Casino. It was quiet in the cool room. Only a canary bird in his cage twittered awhile, and then began whistling half of the song "Who never on a spree did go." Landolin frequently looked up at the bird and smiled; until, remembering Walderjoergli, he murmured, "Give my greeting to your wife." CHAPTER LIII.