"But I saw the blaze immediately after I passed you," said Dellwig. "You were within a stone's throw of the stables, going home. I had hardly reached them when the fire broke out. Did you then see no one on the road?"
"No, I did not," said Axel shortly. There was an aggressive note in Dellwig's voice that made him fear he was going to be very zealous in helping to bring the delinquent to justice.
"It was the supper hour," said Dellwig, musing, "and the men would all be indoors. Had you been to the stables, gnädiger Herr?"
"No, I had not. Take another glass of wine. A cigar? Whoever it was, he has done me a good turn."
"Beyond all doubt he has," said Dellwig, his eyes fixed on Axel with an odd expression.
"Some of us would have no objection to the same thing happening at our places," remarked one of the farmers jocosely.
"No objection whatever," agreed another with a laugh.
"If the man could be trusted to display the same discrimination everywhere," said the third.
"Joke not about crime," said Manske, rebuking them.
"The discrimination was certainly remarkable," said Dellwig.