The father of the lady in question was not over pleased with the attentions of either of these individuals towards his Lieschen, one of the aspirants for his daughter's hand being a drunkard, the son of an executioner, who besides the stigma inevitably attached to his character for life, would be obliged to maintain his daughter by the scanty proceeds of his loathsome profession. The other, a man of notoriously bad character, and dependent upon the wages he received from his master for a living. Of the two, the maid herself decidedly favoured Leo Wenzel, the young headsman, and seeing this, Heinrich Goebel inwardly resolved to take vengeance on his rival upon the first opportunity. Whilst plotting vengeance thus in his heart, Goebel sought his master and shaped his conversation in this wise: "Herr Buergermeister, this will be a somewhat difficult business, this execution." "How so?" inquired his master. "Why, according to law," answered his servant, "young Leo will have to take the life of his own father." "Well, what of that?" said the burgomaster. "They say he is a young man of spirit, and he might refuse to take his father's life." "Refuse! would he? The law will force him." "But if he is obstinate and persists? He is a young man of spirit." "Ugh! I hate these young men of spirit, they are always making trouble and subverting order. Well, if he makes a disturbance, he will be imprisoned, that's all." "Yes, yes, of course; but for all that, if he positively refuses to lift his arm against his father, the law cannot force him to do it." "Well, not exactly, but--but what has put it into your head that he _will_ refuse? He will be rewarded for his services." "But if he could not be tempted by a reward, if by chance he should refuse at the last moment to act the part of executioner towards his own father, and no one should be found to accept the post--why, in that case, if _my_ services should be accepted, I should be most glad to officiate." "What, _you_, Heinrich! _you_ turn Scharfrichter! Ha! ha!--this is something quite new. I was not aware that that was anything in your line." "Well, sir, knowing your dislike to a disturbance among the populace (a thing very likely to occur if the headsman should not be found at his post)--rather than such an old vagabond as Franz Wenzel should get off in the confusion, why, I'll undertake the job myself." "You would? Ha! ha!--but stay, if there _should_ be a disturbance (which Heaven forfend, as any excitement sadly upsets my digestion), I am not so sure that I should like my servant to take upon himself the office of Scharfrichter, for the odium of the populace that he would naturally incur would reflect likewise upon his master, and----" "Well, sir, if you fear that, I should then advise another line of conduct." "Indeed! What may that be?"