uther, gazing at him. "When
thy sword hath inflicted on the squire the most frightful vengeance
that can be conceived, what can induce thee to press for a sentence
against him, the sharpness of which, if it should take effect, would
inflict a wound of such slight importance?"

Kohlhaas answered, while a tear rolled down his cheek: "Revered sir,
the affair has cost me my wife. Kohlhaas would show the world that she
fell in the performance of no injustice. Concede to my will on these
points, and let the tribunal speak. In every other matter that may
come under discussion, I yield."

"Look," said Luther, "what thou askest, supposing circumstances to be
such as the general voice reports, is just; and if thou hadst
endeavoured, without revenging thyself on thine own account, to lay
thine affair before the elector for his decision, I have no doubt that
thy request would have been granted, in every point. But all things
considered, wouldst thou not have done better, if, for thy Redeemer's
sake, thou hadst forgiven the squire, taken the horses, lean and
worn-out as they were, mounted them, and ridden home upon them to
fatten them in their own stable at Kohlhaasenbrueck."

"I might or I might not," answered Kohlhaas, going to the window, "Had
I known that I should have to set them up with my own wife's heart's
blood, then, reverend sir, I might have done as you say, and not have
grudged a bushel of oats. But now they have cost me so dear, the
matter, as I think, had better take its course. So let the sentence be
passed as is my right, and let the squire feed my horses."

Luther, in the midst of contending thoughts, again returned to his
papers, and said that he would himself communicate with the elector on
the affair. In the meanwhile he told Kohlhaas to keep himself quiet at
the Castle of Luetzen, adding, that if the elector consented to a
safe-conduct it should be made known to him by means of placards.
"Whether," he added, as Kohlhaas stooped to kiss his hand, "the elector
will show mercy instead of justice, I know not, for I understand he has
collected an army, and is on the point of seizing thee at the Castle of
Luetzen. Nevertheless, as I told thee before, there shall be no want of
trouble on my part." Upon this he arose and seemed about to dismiss
him. Kohlhaas thought that this intercession was perfectly
satisfactory, and Luther was signifying a farewell with his hand, when
the former suddenly dropped on h