After reading it, Aleph said, “It seems that this house belongs to Malus, and that he wishes it transferred to you, and that he has sent this police force which I see behind you to enforce his wishes, if necessary.—Are you the captain of this force?” he added, looking at a man who stood a few steps behind Antis.
“I am,” he said.
“In ordinary cases,” said Aleph slowly, as he surveyed the man—“in ordinary cases we should be warranted in putting you in immediate possession; but this case is extraordinary—so extraordinary that we have a right to presume that neither Malus nor the chief of the police understood the circumstances when they gave the order just shown me.”
“We have no discretion,” said the captain. “We are sent here to put this man in possession, not to judge of the righteousness of it.”
“Do you mean to say that if you should see reason to believe that your force of some six men is quite insufficient to accomplish your object, you would not be at liberty to return to your superiors for further instructions? Are you not expected to use discretion in judging whether such is the case?”
“Certainly: but such does not appear to be the present case,” said the officer with a chuckle.
Without noticing the manner of the man, Aleph went on, “Do you mean to say that if you should see grave reason to fear that this man in whose behalf you are interfering would use the house to waylay and murder Malus and your chief, you would not be warranted in at least returning for further instructions?”
“Well—in such a case as you suppose, I should of course return: but this is not such a case, nor anything like it,” said the man doggedly.
“Very considerably like it: for I shall show you grave reason to fear that this man” (he pointed his finger at Antis) “is capable of doing all that and worse—that he is a desperado of the worst sort, and——”