xton--I'm beginning to have
strong doubts about the trinity.

Sexton. Well, I declare!

Windrank. It's your trinity I'm thinking of.

Sexton. What do you mean, master skipper?

Windrank. I think there must be four of you, after all.

Sexton. Four--of whom?

Windrank. How about the tapster? Shouldn't he be counted, too?

Sexton. Hush, man! That's only nights.

(Both stumble over the broken image of St. Nicolaus and fall down.)

Windrank. Mercy! Ghosts! Jesu Maria, help!

Sexton (rising and picking up the image). Well, if that isn't enough to
make your hair stand on end! Here's St. Nicolaus broken all to pieces
and swimming in the beer. It has come to a fine pass when divine
things are defiled like that--I don't think the world will last much
longer--when such things can be done in the dry tree--

Windrank (having recovered). In the wet one, you mean.

Sexton. Keep still, blasphemer! St. Nicolaus is my patron saint. I was
born on his day.

Windrank. That's probably why both of you like beer.

Sexton. Yes, it's in the fashion now to be heretical!

Windrank. It's in the air, I think, for otherwise I'm a most God-fearing
man. But never mind, I'll have St. Nicolaus glued together for you.

Sexton (calling into the church). Catherine!

Windrank. Hush, hush, man! You'll make the ghosts appear!

Sexton. A plague on your tongue! [Exeunt.]

SCENE 3

(The Sacristy of the Church of St. Nicolaus. There is a door leading to
the church, and another, smaller one, leading to the pulpit. The walls
are hung with chasubles and surplices. Priedieus and a few small chests
are standing about. The sunlight is pouring in through a window. The
church bells are heard ringing. Through the wall at the left can be
heard a constant murmuring. The Sexton and his Wife enter, stop near the
door, and pray silently.)

Sexton. That's enough! Now, Catherine dear, you'd better hurry up and do
some dusting.

Wife. Oh, there's no special occasion. It's nobody but that Master Olof
who's going to preach to-day. Really, I can't see why the Chapter allows
it.

Sexton. Because he's got permission from the King, you see.

Wife. Well, well!

Sexton. And then he has had a sort of basket built out from the
wall--nothing but new-fangled tricks! It's all on account of that man
Luther.

Wife. I suppose we'll have the same kind of trouble that we had
yesterday. I thought they were going to pull the whole church down.

Sexton (carrying a