"It is a very grave position," he replied. "Very grave indeed."
"You mean because of that telegram? Nonsense. It's a palpable forgery."
The major burst out into raucous laughter. "Forgery! Forgery, is it? Well, forgery or no forgery, you'll answer for that attack on me. Search him, and if he resists knock him on the head," he ordered the two soldiers.
"Is this man the senior officer on the train, Captain Brulen?"
"Hold your insolent tongue; and, Captain Brulen, stay where you are. Do as I told you," he ordered the men.
It would have been madness to resist. There was nothing on me of any consequence; and as Nessa was sitting on the suit case with her dress entirely covering it, nothing of importance was found, except the passports and our tickets. These the bully promptly pocketed.
"Can I speak to you a moment, Major?" said Brulen then.
"No. Mind your own business. This is my affair, not yours."
"Very good, sir," and with that he and Freibach went away. Both looked very disturbed, although for quite different reasons, as I knew.
"Take the man to the other end of the carriage; see that the two prisoners have no chance of speaking to each other; remain between them in the middle until we reach Osnabrück, and if any attempt is made to escape, use your bayonets. You're answerable for them."