"These are strange questions," replied the stranger, in a surly tone. "I want my stick myself at this time of night. And who are you, sir, I should like to know?" And he approached the Professor menacingly.
"I am a peaceable man," replied the Professor, "and little inclined to violent courses. But a struggle has commenced between that dog on the bench and me about an overcoat, and I should be extremely obliged to you if you would rescue the coat from the dog. But pray do no more harm to him than is absolutely necessary."
"Is it your coat?" asked the man.
"Unfortunately, I cannot say it is," replied Raschke, conscientiously.
"There is something wrong here," cried the stranger, again looking with suspicion at the Professor.
"Something, indeed," replied Raschke; "the dog is mad, the coat has been changed, and I don't know where we are."
"Close to the Valley Gate, Professor Raschke," answered the voice of Gabriel, who rapidly joined the group. "But, pardon me, how came you here?"
"How opportune," cried Raschke, delighted; "just take charge of the coat and the dog."
With astonishment Gabriel saw his friend Spitehahn, who was now sitting on the coat, quite abashed and chapfallen at the sight of his master. Gabriel drove the dog off, and seized the coat. "It is my own overcoat!" he said.
"Yes, Gabriel," rejoined the Professor, "that was my mistake, and the dog has displayed a wonderful fidelity in guarding it."