"That will do,—quite enough," said he, stopping me short. "Your sentiments are sufficiently clear and explicit. You are a worthy disciple of your friend Gauss."
"I never heard of him till now," said I.
"Nor of Isaac Henkenstrom?—nor Reichard Blitzler?—nor Johann von Darg?"
"Not one of them."
"This you swear?"
"This I swear," said I, firmly; but the words were not well out, when the door was opened at a signal made by the Commissary, and an old man, with a very white beard and in shabby black, was led forward.
"Do you know the Herr Professor now?" asked the Commissary of me.
"No," said I, stoutly,—"never saw him before."
"Bring in the others," said he; and, to my astonishment, came forward three of the young fellows I had travelled with on foot from Saxony, but whose names I had not heard, or, if I heard, had forgotten.
"Are these men known to you?" asked the Prefect, with a sneer.