impatient bark in idleness at the quay. Good Marcelli, hast thou aught to
suggest in this strait?"

"Signore, you forget that we have another document that may be found
sufficient"--the person questioned, who appeared to fill a middle station
between that of a servant and that of a companion, rather hinted than
observed:

"Thou sayest true--and yet I would gladly avoid producing it--but anything
is better than the loss of thy company, Melchior."

"Name it not! We shall not separate, though the Winkelried rot where she
lies. 'Twere easier to separate our faithful cantons than two such
friends."

"Nay, noble baron, you forget the wearied pilgrims and the many anxious
travellers in the bark."

"If twenty crowns will purchase thy consent, honest Baptiste, we will have
no further discussion."

"It is scarce in human will to withstand you, noble Sir!--Well, the
pilgrims have weary feet, and rest will only fit them the better for the
passage of the mountains; and as for the others, why let them quit the
bark if they dislike the conditions. I am not a man to force my commerce
on any."

"Nay, nay, I will have none of this. Keep thy gold, Melchior, and let the
honest Baptiste keep his passengers, to say nothing of his conscience."