“His turn has already come,” replied Christian; “I will take charge of that.”
“Softly, softly, my dear friend! You have no authority to act in this matter. That is my business; and now that we have a certainty, now that we have proofs, I am fully resolved to take rigorous measures. However, we cannot proceed against a noble, and a member of the Diet, without orders from higher quarters; but do not doubt that we will obtain them. What you have to do for the moment, my dear friend, is to obey me; for I call upon you in the name of the laws, and in the name of honor, to lend me such assistance as I may require, according to the orders that I may give you.”
M. Goefle now ran forward, with his head bare, a torch in one hand and a sword in the other. He had got out through the door of the guard-room, after persuading the two young girls—but not without difficulty, for they were both of them alike fearless for themselves, and solicitous about the absent—to remain shut up in the bear-room under Peterson’s protection.
“Christian! Christian!” he cried, “is this the way that you keep your word?”
“I forgot everything, Monsieur Goefle,” replied Christian, in a low voice; “it was too strong for me. How could I wait there until they came to break down the doors and fire upon the women? But no matter, we are victorious; return to Margaret, and reassure her.”
“Yes, I will go at once,” replied the lawyer, sneezing, “especially as I am catching a frightful cold; I hope,” he added aloud, “that these gentlemen are coming to see us.”
“Yes, certainly, that was the agreement,” replied the major; “but we must first attend to our duties.”
M. Goefle went to reassure the ladies, and the other men proceeded to have Massarelli’s corpse removed. They obliged the two prisoners to carry it to one of the cellars of the gaard, keeping them within range of their pistols, in case they should show any disposition to take flight. The prisoners were then firmly bound, and conducted to Stenson’s kitchen, where the lieutenant and corporal made a fire, and installed themselves, to keep them in sight, while the major prepared to examine them in Christian’s presence.
Christian lost all patience at seeing them proceeding so regularly in an affair which the major seemed to understand better than he did himself. However, the major explained to him that with such an adversary as the baron, it was not so easy as he thought to prove even an obvious and recognized fact.
“And then,” he added, “I regret to see that we are somewhat deficient in witnesses. M. Goefle only saw the conclusion of the affair. We find here neither M. Stenson, nor his nephew, nor your servant. I hoped that we should be in greater force to defend you, and to prove the facts de visu. The adjutant and the four soldiers whom I have sent for, have not yet appeared. Though our bostoelles and the torps of the soldiers are very near, the fog is so thick that several hours may pass before we have eight men here under arms.”