The prisoner watched me with a sly look.
I stepped up to him, beside myself.
"I know your name, now, sir!" I said.
"That is very remarkable," he replied insolently, "for the paper you have in your possession is not signed, and you are not a wizard."
"You wretch!" I burst out. "Your name is Ulrich von Boose, and you are the murderer of the Grand Duke Rudolph of Lautenburg-Detmold."
His face turned deadly pale. His hands contracted convulsively. But he had enough presence of mind to say to my chief in a quivering voice:
"I protest against this treatment, sir! Please be good enough to stop your lieutenant from insulting an enemy prisoner. It's infamous!"
"Oh, don't you bother me!" shouted my chief. "But really, lieutenant, what's all this about? What's in that paper?"
I had the greatest difficulty in controlling my feelings.
"Excuse me sir," I murmured. "I don't feel able to explain myself.... But would you be kind enough to send for Lieutenant Vignerte at once! He knows all about this man, and can tell you everything."