Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/132

 no mistake in the case; and accordingly, slipping unperceived out of the house, he hastened to the magistrates and laid his plaint. Justice, in the good town of Hirschberg, had, at that period, the repute of great vigilance and activity in all cases where the expenses were sure to be paid; though ’twas said her progress was little better than snail-paced in mere profitless ex officio proceedings. The same thing, for that matter, has been insinuated of other times and places. Our Israelite, who knew the way of Hirschberg, when he found the judge hesitate to receive his deposition, pointed out to him that the wallet of the accused contained a corpus delicti far more than sufficient to pay handsomely all fees, expenses, and perquisites whatever. These golden spectacles at once cleared the magistrate’s vision, and he forthwith issued his warrant, armed with which, and with rusty pikes and halberts, a body of catchpoles surrounded the inn pointed out by the Jew; the more daring of them then rushed, with firm determination, into the common room, furiously seized the unconscious offender, and dragged him to the hall of justice.

“Who art thou?” demanded the judge, with a stern voice, “and whence comest thou?”—“I am an honest tailor by business,” replied the young man, in a firm, fearless tone, “my name is Benedict; I come from Liebenau; I work in my master’s house.”—“Hast thou not attacked this Jew in the forest, beaten him