“Where’s the master of this house?”
He made a determined effort to give the impression that he did not know Doctor Svetilovitch or the others. Actually he knew nearly all of them personally. Doctor Svetilovitch walked up to him.
“I am the master of this house. I am Doctor Svetilovitch,” he said in a no less official tone.
The Colonel in the blue uniform then announced:
“M. Svetilovitch, it is my duty to make a search of your house.”
Doctor Svetilovitch asked:
“Under whose authority are you doing this? And where is your warrant for carrying out the search?”
The Colonel of the gendarmerie turned towards the piano and rummaged in his portfolio, but produced nothing. He said:
“I assure you I have an order. If you have any doubts you can call up on the telephone.”
Then the Colonel turned to the Inspector of the police and said: