"To have borne my real name would have involved me in difficulties."
"Why?"
"Because, through a rumour which I was powerless to contradict, there was a blot on that name."
"What rumour?"
It was clear this man intended to humiliate him to the dust before passing on him the inevitable sentence.
"You know it," he murmured faintly between his closed teeth.
The Landrath bowed. "Nevertheless I must ask for information on the subject."
"I decline to give it."
The mob sent up a shout of scornful laughter.
"Do for him at once! put him in chains!" roared the same hiccoughing voice that had made use of an abusive epithet earlier in the proceedings.