Gyuri cleared his throat with a rasping noise.
“What were you saying, friend Cardillac?” asked Muller with a great show of interest.
“I have done things here that nobody has found out. It gives me great pleasure to see the authorities so helpless over the riddles I have given them to solve. Oh, indeed, sir, you would never imagine how stupid they are here.”
“In other words, friend Cardillac, you are too clever for the authorities here?
“Yes, that’s it,” said the insane man greatly flattered. He raised his head proudly and smiled down at his guest. At this moment the doctor came into the room and Gyuri walked forward to the group at the window.
“You are making him nervous, sir,” he said to Muller in a tone that was almost harsh.
“You can leave that to me,” answered the detective calmly. “And you will please place yourself behind Mr. Varna’s chair, not behind mine. It is your eyes that are making him uneasy.”
The attendant was alarmed and lost control of himself for a moment. “Sir!” he exclaimed in an outburst.
“My name is Muller, in case you do not know it already, Joseph Muller, detective. Gyuri Kovacz, you will do what I tell you to! I am master here just now. Is it not so, doctor?”
“Yes, it is so,” said the doctor.