He chuckled. "I thought you'd see wisdom," he sneered.
"Not quite as you think, however. What I'm going to do is"—and I paused—"to give you forty-eight hours to clear out of Berlin; and if I find you here then, I'll not only tell the von Reblings the whole of your confounded scheme, but I'll tell Baron von Gratz as well. And I'm thundering glad you've put that card in my hands."
CHAPTER IX
A BREAD RIOT
It would be difficult for any one to appear more absolutely dumbfounded than von Erstein when I delivered my ultimatum and got up.
That I had scared him, his chalk-white cheeks showed unmistakably, while the quiver of his lips, clenched hands, and the fierce light in his piggish little eyes testified to his rage. He jumped up instantly to stop my going.
"Don't go, Lassen, at all events in that way. Let's talk it over," he clamoured. "The thing can be explained and we can come to an understanding."
"You swine!" I growled. "Get out of the way or I shall forget I'm in your room and lay my hands on you."
He tried not to wince, but was too much of a cur. "Look here, I'm not going to utter a word about that Hanover business. I swear that," he said as I went to the door.