While I was assuring her that all was well, and that I had an order to him for her release, Praga was answering him.
"You come in excellent time, gentlemen, whoever you are. This is the thing that screeched for help," pointing to von Nauheim.
"Ah, the Count von Nauheim," said the major in a tone of satisfaction.
"There is the lady you seek, Major Gessler," said the poltroon, pointing a trembling finger to Minna. "And I call you to witness that I have been stopped on the highway by these two men and my life threatened. I claim your protection."
The major looked from one to the other of us in indecision, and then the Corsican laughed a deep, rolling laugh of contemptuous anger.
"By the nails that pierced the feet, you are a paltry thing!" he cried. "Nothing's too vile and base for you to save your dirty little life; is it? A minute since you were grovelling to the Countess Minna, hanging to her skirts, and begging her to save you; and now you think to try and curry favor with Major Gessler by this lick-spittling attempt to betray her. But you don't know him, lily-liver; he's the last man in the world to step in to prevent an affair of this kind. This is an affair of honor, major, if we can use that term with a man like this; and of course you will not think of interfering, except to see that everything is done duly and in good order."
There was a significance in his tone which did not escape me.
"I must first learn the reason of your all being here, if you please."
"I was returning to——" began von Nauheim, when Praga cut him short.
"Silence!" he thundered; "you will only lie." Then to the major he said, "I know no reason why I should explain my conduct to you."