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WILLIAM TELL
47
A voice made itself heard from behind a rock not far off.
“Where did you get that hat?” said the voice.
“There!" grumbled Leuthold; “they’re always at it. Last time it was, ‘Who’s your hatter?’ Why, we’re the laughing-stock of the place. We're like two rogues in a pillory. ’Tis rank disgrace for one who wears a sword to stand as sentry o’er an empty hat. To make obeisance to a hat! I’faith, such a command is downright foolery!”
“Well,” said Friesshardt, “and why not bow before an empty hat? Thou hast oft bow’d before an empty skull. Ha, ha! I was always one for a joke, yer know.”
“Here come some people,” said Leuthold. “At last! And they're only the rabble, after all. You don't catch any of the better sort of people coming here.”