asked the squire whether this really was the case, adding that it would
prove the utter destruction of his business. The squire, somewhat
confused, answered as he withdrew,

"Yes, Kohlhaas, you must have a pass; speak about it with the
castellan, and go your way." Kohlhaas assured him that he had no
notion of evading such regulations as might be made respecting the
conveyance of horses, promised, in his way through Dresden, to get a
pass from the secretary's office, and begged that he might, on this
occasion, be allowed to go on, as he knew nothing of the requisition.
"Well," said the squire, while the storm broke out anew and rattled
against his thin limbs, "Let the fellow go. Come," said he to his
knights, and moving round, he was proceeding to the castle. The
castellan, however, turning to him said that Kohlhaas must at least
leave some pledge that he would get the passport. The squire, upon
this, remained standing at the castle-gate, while Kohlhaas asked what
security in money or in kind he should leave on account of the black
horses. The bailiff mumbled out that he thought the horses themselves
might as well be left. "Certainly," said the castellan, "That is the
best plan. When he has got the pass he can take them away at any time."

Kohlhaas, astounded at so impudent a proposition, told the squire, who
was shivering and holding his waistcoat tight to his body, that he
should like to sell him the blacks; but the latter, as a gust of wind
drove a world of rain through the gate, cried out, to cut the matter
short, "If he won't leave his horses pitch him over the bar back
again!" and so saying, left the spot. The horse-dealer, who saw that
he must give way to force, resolved, as he could not do otherwise, to
comply with the request, so he unfastened the blacks, and conducted
them to a stable which the castellan showed him, left a servant behind,
gave him money, told him to take care of the blacks till his return,
and doubting whether, on account of the advances made in breeding,
there might not be such a law in Saxony, he continued his journey with
the rest of his horses to Leipzig, where he wished to attend the fair.

As soon as he reached Dresden, where, in one of the suburbs he had a
house with stables, being in the habit of carrying on his trade from
thence with the lesser markets of the country, he went to the
secretary's office, and there learned from the councillors, some of
whom he knew, what he ha