"Deny what?" he asked. "That this poor unhappy girl whom you have denounced and ostracised regards me as her rescuer and saviour, because I am the first who for years has spoken a kind word to her? Or would you have me deny that this same unhappy girl has endeared herself to me, because she is the only human being on God's earth who has clung to me in my hour of need, when every one else has forsaken me? I should be an ungrateful ruffian if I did not value her after all she has done for me. I never asked her to share my solitude among the ruins. It is not so comfortable or lively up there, and all my goodness to her has consisted in my allowing her to sacrifice herself for me. I have not been able to supply her with pleasures. There has been no unlawful intimacy between us. If she prefers to be my body-slave to being stoned and harried to death, that is no concern of any one's in the world, least of all of you Schrandeners, and of that despicable drunkard who prostituted his own flesh and blood." Gently prompted by old Merckel, the carpenter recommenced playing the rôle of injured father. "Oh my daughter! my poor, misguided daughter!" he groaned. "Do your duty," urged the landlord; "reclaim her." "Come, my child; come back to your brokenhearted, deserted father. He has taken to drink through grief ... driven to it. He will only make two more coffins; one for himself and one for----" He stretched out his dirty hand to her, which, shuddering, she violently repulsed. "Do not distress yourself further," said Boleslav. "She belongs to me as I belong to her." "Nevertheless, I demand her from you this day, Boleslav von Schranden," said the old pastor, placing his hand on Regina's head. She cowered, but let it lie there. "That you may be able to stone her better?" "I promise you that no harm shall come to her. I will confide her to the care of one of my spiritual brethren, who will see to her wants for this side of the grave and the other. If you oppose her redemption, you will only be knitting the chain of your sin the closer." Boleslav was silent. A thousand thoughts rushed through his brain. This old man's word was to be relied on; he was no cheat. And what lawful claim had he to this woman lying helpless at his feet? How could he make it worth her while to perpetually risk her life for him? Then the Landrath, who had partially recovered from his panic, put in his word. "Is the young person of age?" he asked. The pastor calculated a moment, and replied in the affirmative. "The _vis paterna_ therefore cannot be enforced against her wishes, otherwise she might be sent to a penitentiary, where----" The rest of his speech was cut short by a burst of ironical laughter from Boleslav. "She may decide for herself. Does that satisfy you, _Herr Baron_?"