The astounded magistrates sat like a row of pillars, measuring the stranger from head to foot.  The Burgomaster first found his tongue.  “Who are you, noble lord,” said he, “that thus, entirely unknown, speak of tons of gold as though they were sacks of beans?  Tell us your name, your rank in this world, and whether you are sent from the regions above to assist us.”

“I have not the honour to reside there,” replied the stranger, “and, between ourselves, I beg most particularly to be no longer troubled with questions concerning who and what I am.  Suffice it to say I have gold plentiful as summer hay!” Then, drawing forth a leathern pouch, he proceeded:  “This little purse contains the tenth of what I’ll give.  The rest shall soon be forthcoming.  Now listen, my masters,” continued he, clinking the coin; “all this trumpery is and shall remain yours if you promise to give me the first little soul that enters the door of the new temple when it is consecrated.”

The astonished magistrates sprang from their seats as if they had been shot up by an earthquake and rushed pell-mell into the farthest corner of the room, where they rolled and clung to each other like lambs frightened at flashes of lightning.  Only one of the party had not entirely lost his wits, and he collected his remaining senses and, drawing his head out of the heap, uttered boldly:  “Avaunt, thou wicked spirit!”

But the stranger, who was no less a person than Master Urian, laughed at them.  “What’s all this outcry about?” said he at length.  “Is my offence so heinous that you are all become like children?  It is I that may suffer from this business, not you.  With my hundreds and thousands I have not far to run to buy a score of souls.  Of you I ask but one in exchange for all my money.  What are you picking at straws for?  One may plainly see you are a mere set of humbugs!  For the good of the commonwealth (which high-sounding name is often borrowed for all sorts of purposes) many a prince would instantly conduct a whole army to be butchered, and you refuse one single man for that purpose!  Fie!  I am ashamed, O overwise counsellors, to hear you reason thus absurdly and citizen-like.  What, do you think to deprive yourselves of the kernel of your people by granting my wish?  Oh, no; there your wisdom is quite at fault, for, depend on it, hypocrites are always the earliest church birds.”

By degrees, as the cunning fiend thus spoke, the magistrates took courage and whispered in each other’s ears:  “What is the use of our resisting?  The grim lion will only show his teeth once.  If we don’t assent, we shall infallibly be packed off ourselves.  It is better, therefore, to quiet him directly.”

Scarcely had they given effect to this new disposition and concluded the bargain when a swarm of purses flew into the room through doors and windows.  Urian now took leave, but he stopped at the door and called out with a grim leer:  “Count it over again for fear I may have cheated you.”