"Now we can talk with less strain. You sent for me to come here to help the Baron. I'm here to do it."
Both were still all but speechless with amazement. "What do you mean?" faltered at length the elder man.
"Wasn't it you who sent for me?"
He fell back into his chair and stared at me in silence, passing his hand across his brow distractedly.
"You'd better begin to think a bit. If you didn't send for me I shall come to the conclusion that you meant to harm him; and in that case we shall quarrel."
"Yes--yes. I did send for you," he answered hesitatingly. "We have managed to save him from the anger of some of those who meant to harm him."
"Then hand him over to me and I'll relieve you of your guard. Where is he?"
He half-turned toward the corner, in where I saw the poor old man lying bound.
"He was very violent and--and we had to--to restrain him, or he would have run into danger."
"You make a poor show as a liar. But never mind; release him."