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Page 65
Woodlouse looked on for some time with the greatest satisfaction, until
the idea struck him that he would clear the room. He accomplished his
object with the greatest perseverance, and what with butting with his
head and pushing his heavy body between the combatants, he at length
managed to get the whole lot turned out of doors. Begmand threw their
hats after them, and shut the door.
The fresh wind had a cooling effect on them all, and on Woodlouse's
suggestion a truce was concluded. In order to ratify this, it was
arranged that they should go to Tom Robson's house, and have another
dram and a bit of English cheese.
They then clambered up the steep path at the back of Begmand's house,
Tom Robson leading, and as he was helping himself with his hands up the
steepest places, he chanced to get hold of a loose stone, which, in pure
drunken wantonness, he threw at Marianne's window, where he happened to
see a light. The stone struck with such force, just where the bars of
the window-frame crossed, that all the four panes were smashed, and the
glass came clattering down.
"That was Tom Robson!" yelled Martin, who was the last. "Let me get up
to him! Out of the way! Only let me get my hands on him!" and he worked
his way past the others, and got up to Tom, just as he had reached the
top of the slope where the flat meadow began.
Martin went at him with such violence that the other had not time to put
himself in position. Blow after blow rained down on him, until he fell
to the ground half stupefied. Martin threw himself upon him, put his
knees on his breast, and struck him in the face, and then continued
hitting and kicking at random until he could do so no longer.
The others now came up, but did not get between the combatants. Martin
was now perfectly wild, and went on in front, swinging his arms, cursing
and swearing horribly. Tom Robson came limping behind; but no sooner did
Martin catch sight of him, than he threw himself upon him a second time,
until he again lay apparently dead upon the meadow. They thus continued
their way over the field, but just as Martin was making a third attack
upon Tom, a tall, slender boy came springing over the field, and put
himself in front of Martin. It was Gabriel Garman.
"Will you leave him alone, Martin?" he cried, breathless from running.
"Oh!" cried Martin, "here is one of the bloodsuckers! You have just come
at the right time. I will wreak my vengeance on you, you infernal young
scoundrel!"
But just as he was on the point of attacking Gabriel his arms were
seized from behind.
"Are you mad, Martin? It's Gabriel, the Consul's son. You are out of
your senses, lad!" cried Woodlouse. Both he and the Swede threw
themselves upon Martin, and held him fast. Martin yelled and struggled,
until he at length fell back, wearied with his efforts, and lay still.
Tom Robson did not know much about what was going on, but managed,
however, to stumble up to his house, which was close by.
"You have no occasion to be afraid, Mr. Gabriel," said Woodlouse, in a
fawning tone; "we have got him tight."
"That is what you ought to have done before," answered Gabriel. "I
should have been able to look after myself."
He was so slight and slender that Martin could have crushed him, mad as
he was; but Woodlouse could not help saying, as he went down the slope,
"There is good blood in them."
Martin, whom they had now let go, raised his head. "Blood, do you say?
Yes, there's blood in them--the blood of the poor that they have sucked
from father to son. And all that blood have they turned to
gold--shining, blood-red gold; but," added he, mysteriously, "I will tap
the gold out of them--I will--till it shines as red as blood all over
Sandsgaard! Just wait a minute!" And off he rushed down the slope with
the activity of a deer. Woodlouse and the Swede looked at each other
meaningly, and each went his way without saying a word.
After the window had been broken, Marianne quickly put out the light.
She took her petticoat, and tried to stop up the window, but the wind
was blowing so hard that she could not manage to make it tight. She
shivered with the cold as she stood, and hurriedly got into bed. But
every time a blast came she felt the cold draught, and could not get
warm.
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