Of the scene that followed the watchers in the gallery were amazed and horrified spectators. It seems that Captain von Hardenberg had not been idle during the time the Sunstone had been in his possession; with Teuton thoroughness and industry he had even learnt to speak in the Maziri tongue.
"Who are you?" said he to the old man, so strange and terrible to behold.
"I do not ask who you may be," answered the other, "because I know."
Word by word, the following conversation was afterwards repeated to Harry by Fernando.
"You know!" cried von Hardenberg. "What do you know?"
"I know that you are he who bears the Sunstone on your person. I order you to deliver it up!"
Von Hardenberg drew back a pace. The Black Dog was crouching like a tiger behind one of the pillars, unseen by either of the speakers.
"Who told you?" cried von Hardenberg. "Who told you I have the Sunstone?"
"These things," said the old man in a great, solemn voice, "these things I know because I am one who holds converse with the gods. Me you cannot deceive. A short time ago I was asleep, and in my sleep I dreamed a dream—that the Sunstone had returned."
"You are mad!" cried the Prussian in brutal derision.