For some few moments all present were saddened by this scene. Coucou Peter’s eyes wandered dolefully over the table, and he did not know what course to take. Suddenly he drew himself up, and in a loud tone cried— “Posterity will severely judge you, Mr. Mayor! So much the worse for you.” This said, he cocked his hat upon his ear, crossed his hands behind his back, and walked majestically out by the same door as Maître Frantz. After the departure of Coucou Peter there was a great uproar. Jacob Fischer, a sensual man and naturally covetous of money, recollected that Coucou Peter and Mathéus had lodged in the outhouse, that they had given Bruno two feeds of oats, and that they had not only themselves dined at thirty sous apiece, but that Hans Aden and Thérèse had dined also at their expense. He hurried after Coucou Peter, therefore, crying— “Stop! stop! You are not going off in that manner, without paying.” Everybody followed the landlord, impressed by a singular curiosity to see what further was going to happen. On reaching the steps into the yard, they saw Maître Frantz coming from the outhouse, leading Bruno by the bridle, and behind him Coucou Peter, with the saddle, valise, and other things, hastening to get all ready for departure, for he apprehended that an attempt might be made to detain them. Jacob Fischer uttered an exclamation of indignation, and sprang down the steps four at a time. “You are not going off so!” he cried. “I shall detain this horse as security.” And, filled with anger, he tried to stop Bruno; but Coucou Peter, pushing him back roughly, seized a stick from behind the stable door, and exclaimed— “Stand back! There is nothing in common between you and me!” Jacob Fischer hung on to the bridle, and Mathéus said gently— “Put back your stick behind the door, my dear disciple—put this stick back into its place.” Coucou Peter looked as if he were disinclined to obey; but when he saw the crowd stream down the steps into the yard, he remembered the psychological lessons of Oberbronn and gave in. Almost at the same moment a number of people surrounded the horse, the illustrious philosopher, and his disciple. Each one related the occurrence in his own manner, and Mathéus was deeply distressed at hearing all these cries, speeches, and explanations; for if some approved, others highly blamed him for wishing to go away without paying. Among the crowd were Jacob Fischer and his wife, big Orchel and little Katel, Hans Aden and Dame Thérèse, Kasper-Siébel, the son of Ludwig-Siébel the blacksmith, Passauf the garde champêtre, in his large gendarme’s hat, the Anabaptist Pelsly, and the mayor in tri-coloured scarf. There was a great tumult. At length the mayor succeeded in obtaining silence, and Jacob Fischer then stated the case.