Marguerite obeyed. Her movement was slow, and her whole manner
that of one who yielded to a stern necessity.
"Thou art the headsman's wife?"
"And a headsman's daughter."
"Marguerite is a well-disposed and a sensible woman," put in Peterchen;
"she understands that an office under the state can never bring disgrace
in the eyes of reason, and wishes no part of her history or origin to be
concealed."
The glance that flashed from the eye of Balthazar's wife was withering;
but the dogmatic bailiff was by far too well satisfied with his own
wisdom to be conscious of its effects.
"And a headsman's daughter," continued the examining judge; "why art thou
here?"
"Because I am a wife and a mother. As the latter I came upon the mountain,
and as a wife I have mounted to the convent to be present at this
examination. They will have it that there is blood upon the hands of
Balthazar, and I am here to repel the lie."
"And yet thou hast not been slow to confess thy connexion with a race of
executioners!--They who are accustomed to see their fellows die might have
less warmth in meeting a plain inquiry of justice!"
"Herr Chatelain, thy meaning is understood.
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