It was with difficulty that he succeeded in restraining them.
Before the town-hall he slackened his pace.

The burgomaster was always to be found there at this hour.

Should he quit the city without taking leave of him?
No, no! And yet--since yesterday he had forfeited the right to look frankly into his eyes.

He was afraid to meet him, it seemed as if he were completely estranged from him.

So Georg rushed past the town-hall, and said defiantly: "Even if I leave him without a farewell, I owe him nothing; for I must pay for his kindness with cruel suffering, perhaps death.