SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS
the grass were the remains of Clara’s chair; part of the back and the middle bit, and enough of the red padding and the bright nails to show how magnificent the chair had been when it was entire.
“I was here when the men passed carrying it up,” said the baker who was standing near Peter. “I’ll bet any one that it was worth twenty-five pounds at least. I cannot think how such an accident could have happened.”
“Uncle said the wind might perhaps have done it,” remarked one of the women, who could not sufficiently admire the red upholstery.
“It’s a good job that no one but the wind did it,” said the baker again, “or he might smart for it! No doubt the gentleman in Frankfurt when he hears what has happened will make all inquiries about it. I am glad for myself that I have not been seen up the mountain for a good two years, as suspicion is likely to fall on any one who was about up there at the time.”
Many more opinions were passed on the matter, but Peter had heard enough. He crept quietly away out of the crowd and then took to his heels and ran up home as fast as he could, as if he thought some one was after him. The baker’s words had filled him with fear and trembling. He was sure now that any day a constable might come over from Frankfurt and inquire about the destruction of the chair, and then everything would come out, and he would be seized and carried off to Frankfurt and there put in prison. The whole picture of what was coming was clear before him, and his hair stood on end with terror.
He reached home in this disturbed state of mind. He would not open his mouth in reply to anything that was said to him;
[349]
