But the moment Jan was there Lars Gunnarsom jumped down from the table, rushed up to him, snatched his imperial cap and stick and was back in his place before Jan had time to think of offering resistance.

Then Jan cried out and tried to climb up onto the table to get back the stolen heirlooms, but immediately Lars raised the stick to him and forced him back.  At that there was a murmur of disapproval from the crowd, which, however, had no effect upon Lars.

“I see that you are surprised at my action,” he shouted in his loud auctioneering voice, which could be heard all over the yard.  “But this cap and this stick belong to us Falla folk.  They were bequeathed to my father-in-law, Eric Ersa, by the old master of Falla, he who ran the farm before Eric took it over.  These things have always been treasured in the family, and I can’t tolerate having a lunatic parade around in them.”

Jan had suddenly recovered his composure and while Lars was speaking, he stood with his arms crossed on his chest a look in his face of sublime indifference to Lars’s talk.  As soon as Lars subsided, Jan, with a gesture of command, turned to the crowd, and said very quietly: 

“Now, my good Courtiers, you must see that I get back my property.”

Not a solitary person made a move to help him, but there were some who laughed.  Now they had all gone over to Lars’s side.  There was just one individual who seemed to feel sorry for Jan.  A woman cried out to the auctioneer: 

“Ah, Lars, let him keep his royal trumpery!  The cap and stick are of no use to you.”

“I’ll give him one of my own caps, when I get home,” returned Lars.  “But I’ll be hanged if I let him go about any longer with these heirlooms, making of them a target for jests!”

This was followed by loud laughs from the crowd, Jan was so dumfounded that all he could do was to stand still and look at the people.  He glanced from one to another, unable to get over his amazement.  Dear, dear!  Was there no one among all those who had honoured and applauded him who would help him now, in his hour of need?  The people stood there, unmoved.  He saw then that he meant nothing to them and that they would not lift a finger for him.  He became so frightened that all his imperial greatness fell from him, and he was like a little child that is ready to cry because its playthings have been taken away.

Lars Gunnarson turned to the huge pile of wares stacked beside him, prepared to go on with the auction.  Then Jan attempted to do something himself.  Wailing and protesting, he went up to the table where Lars stood, quickly bent down and tried to overturn it.  But Lars was too alert for him; with a swing of the imperial stick, he dealt Jan a blow across his back that sent him reeling.

“No you don’t!” cried he.  “I’ll keep these articles for the present.  You’ve wasted enough time already on this emperor nonsense.  Now you’d better go straight home and take to your digging again.”