He would have darted at his throat, like a tiger, if he had not seen, in the barbarian’s twinkling eye, a sort of hyena squint, which told him he had better not. But he broke out at once into a passionate exclamation:
“Sirrah! how has the edict disappeared? Tell me directly!”
“Softly, softly, Herr Kornweiner,” answered the imperturbable Northern. “There it is as you left it in my charge.”
“Where, you fool? Come and look at it.”
The Dacian went to his side, and for the first time confronted the board; and after looking at it for some moments, exclaimed: “Well, is not that the board you hung up last night?”
“Yes, you blockhead, but there was writing on it, which is gone. That is what you had to guard.”
“Why, look you, captain, as to writing, you see I know nothing, having never been a scholar; but as it was raining all night, it may have been washed out.”
“And as it was blowing, I suppose the parchment on which it was written was blown off?”
“No doubt, Herr Kornweiner; you are quite right.”
“Come, sir, this is no joking matter. Tell me, at once, who came here last night.”