Except one.  One single person in all Tannenegg was bold enough to swim against this stream of suspicion.  This was Judith.  Not timidly and in secret, but aloud, at all times and in all places, she declared decidedly,

“There’s not one word of truth in what you all say.  It’s a lie from beginning to end.  Dietrich has no more stolen than I have, and I needn’t say more than that.  I’ll ferret this thing out, till I find the true culprit, or my name’s not Judith.”

The first thing to do was to get a clear account of the whole affair; for although she had already heard it told a dozen times, it had always been among other people, who were continually interrupting and asking questions, and were too anxious to hear the end, to wait for the full account of the beginning.  So she decided to apply to Blasi, who, as he had been on the spot, must know all about it.  But she had to hunt him up; for since that unlucky evening he had kept himself out of sight.  She placed her bucket under the spout at the well, and then took a turn about the kitchen garden behind the sexton’s cottage.  Blasi stood in the back doorway, just as he was in the habit of standing in the front doorway, only instead of holding his face up as if to catch any agreeable odors that might be floating about, he stood to-day with drooping head, gazing sadly at the uncared-for garden.

“What’s amiss, Blasi?” asked Judith, sharply, coming upon him before he was aware of her approach.

“Nothing; if you know of anything we will share it,” said Blasi sullenly.

“Well, perhaps I know something that it would not be a bad thing for you to share with me.  Perhaps it’s worth while for some one who has learned it by the sweat of her brow, to tell you that vegetables can be made to grow in a garden, instead of nettles, which you seem to cultivate.”

“I don’t care what grows anywhere; one thing is as good as another to me, now that Dietrich has gone.  There’s nothing to do in the evening now.  I’ve half a mind to go after him.”

“Go where? do you know where he is?”

“I don’t, myself, but Jost does, and I know that Jost is expecting to hear from him.  Though he does call me stupid, I have my eye on him,” said Blasi, with angry emphasis.  “And I know it was Jost who advised Dietrich to run away and hide, though he didn’t mean to let me know.  Oh, I’m no fool!”

Judith nodded assentingly, as if Blasi’s information confirmed her own suspicions.

“Here, Blasi, here’s a little something for you.  Now I want you to tell me exactly how this thing happened, from the very beginning; and don’t leave out a single thing.  I want to hear the whole story, connectedly.”