women servants were sitting at the table, but only one of the
young maids.

Torarin stood still a long time by the door and watched them that
sat at table. They all looked anxious and mournful, and even Herr
Arne was gloomy as the rest and supported his head in his hand.

At last Torarin saw him raise his head.

"Have you brought a stranger into the house with you, Olof groom?"

"Yes," answered the man, "it is Torarin the fish hawker, who has
been this day at the assize at Branehog."

Herr Arne's looks seemed to grow more cheerful at this, and
Torarin heard him say: "Come forward then, Torarin, and give us
news of the assize! I have sat here and waited for half the
night."

All this had such a real and natural air that Torarin began to
feel more and more courageous. He walked quite boldly across the
room to Herr Arne, asking himself whether the murder was not an
evil dream and whether Herr Arne was not in truth alive.

But as Torarin crossed the room, his eyes from old habit sought
the four-post bed, beside which the great money chest used to
stand. But the ironbound chest was no longer in its place, and
when Torarin saw that a shudder again passed through him.

"Now Torarin is to tell us how things went at the assize today,"