"We suspect you of having done something to keep your rival out of the way, in order that you might obtain the house and situation—and perhaps something else that you wish."
"Have you killed him?" asked Erica abruptly, looking full in his face.
"No," returned Hund firmly. From his manner everybody believed this much.
"Do you know that anybody else has killed him?"
"No."
"Do you know whether he is alive or dead?"
To this Hund could, in the confusion of his ideas about Rolf's fate and condition, fairly say "No;" as also to the question, "Do you know where he is?"
Then they all cried out—
"Tell us what you do know about him."
"Ay, there you come," said Hund, resuming some courage, and putting on the appearance of more than he had. "You load me with foul accusations, and when you find yourselves all in the wrong, you alter your tone, and put yourselves under obligation to me for what I will tell. I will treat you better than you treat me, and I will tell you plainly why. I repent of my feelings towards my fellow-servant, now that evil has befallen him——"