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He looked him up, at his niece's desire. She wished, if possible, to speak to him that same day. Petter Nord began to shake and tremble when he saw Halfvorson. It was as if he had seen a slippery snake. He did not know which he wished most to strike him or to run away from him; but he soon perceived that Halfvorson looked much troubled.
When he was gone, they drew a sigh of relief. "What will Halfvorson say?" said Edith. "He will be glad," answered the housekeeper. "He put the money there for the boy, I think. I guess that he wanted to be rid of him." "But why? The boy was the best one we have had in the shop for many years." "He probably did not want him to give testimony in the affair with the brandy."
The boy kissed them all and whispered: "I should like to have many, very many like you." He began to have all sorts of thoughts about the note, and why Halfvorson did not inquire for it. Perhaps it was not Halfvorson's? Perhaps it had lain in the shop for a long time? Perhaps it no longer had any owner? Thoughts are contagious. At supper Halfvorson had begun to speak of money and moneyed-men.
What a feeling of security there is in knowing that you are walking there! And deaf old Halfvorson will still be digging in his garden, while his eyes, clear as water, stare and wander as if they would say: "We have investigated everything, everything; now, earth, we will bore down to your very centre."
As if they were worth as much as a white mouse, if the heart could not be glad at the same time! He clapped his hands and cried out in joy that he was free, free, free! There was not even a longing to possess the fifty crowns in his heart. How good it was to be happy! When he had gone to bed, he thought that he would show Halfvorson the fifty crowns early the next morning.
One morning the three men had come to him and said that they were going in his place to beat Halfvorson, "that justice should be done on earth," as they said. Petter Nord threatened to kill all three of them if they went one step on the way to the village. Then one of them who was little and short, and whose name was Long-Petter, made a speech to Petter Nord.
"You see that it was well worth while for me to drag you up to bear witness against him! You see that he is a thief!" "No, no, no," screamed poor Petter Nord. "I did not wish to steal. I only hid the note." Halfvorson heard nothing. Both the women stood with their backs turned to the room, as if determined to neither hear nor see. Petter Nord sat up in bed.
Every one said to Petter Nord: "Go back and punish Halfvorson, then you will be arrested, and there will be a trial, and the thing will get into the papers, and the fellow's shame will be known throughout all the land." But Petter Nord would not. It might be amusing, but revenge is a costly pleasure, and Petter Nord knew that Life is poor. Life cannot afford such amusements.
"Perhaps it is best not to know anything," said Petter Nord. "I wish to rise in the world, do you see," continued Edith, "and I wish to drag Halfvorson up with me, but he always drops back again. And then he does something so that I become impossible too. He is scheming something now. Do you not know what it is? It would be good to know." "No," said Petter Nord, and not another word would he say.
"You have always something you are tucking away when I come into the shop. But now I have caught you. Now I leave witnesses, and now I am going for the police." The boy gave a piercing scream. "Will no one help me, will no one help me?" he cried. Halfvorson was gone, and the old woman who managed his house came up to him. "Get up and dress yourself, Petter Nord!
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