"Quite correct. The whole conspiracy lies in a nutshell."
"Sir, I believe that you are inclined to jest with me," shouted the Assessor, scarlet with rage. "Are you aware that that will tell very much against your case? The police department of L---- ..."
"Must be in a bad way if it has you for a representative," observed the young man, with imperturbable calm.
This was too much. The insulted official sprang up like one possessed.
"Unheard-of insolence! What, have things gone so far that the authorities are now to be openly scoffed at and treated with contempt? But you shall pay dearly for it! You have insulted and attacked the Government in my person. I arrest you. I will have you handcuffed and conveyed to L----."
He rushed at his adversary, who quietly let him come on, and then with a single movement of his powerful arm sent him back, bounding like a ball on to the sofa near at hand, which happily received him.
"Violence!" he screamed, "violence! an attack upon my person. Fräulein Margaret, fetch your father."
"Fetch a glass of water, Fräulein, and dash it over the gentleman's head," said the stranger. "He needs it."
The girl had no time to obey either of these very different injunctions, for hasty steps were heard in the adjoining room, and the steward, who had seen with extreme surprise the precautionary measures adopted in his hall, and had heard the loud voices, came quickly in.
The Assessor still lay on the sofa, wriggling and kicking in his struggle to get on his legs again, which, in consequence of the shortness of those members and the height whereon he was perched, was a feat difficult to accomplish.