One cannot imagine to what clearness, intensity, and rapidity the human eye acquires when stimulated by fear.
At the third summons I heard:
"Open, or we shall force it!"
Seeing that flight was impossible, I staggered to the door and drew the bolt.
Two hands immediately fell upon my collar. A dumpy, little man, smelling of wine, said:
"I arrest you!"
He wore a bottle-green redingote, buttoned to the chin, and a stovepipe hat. He had large brown whiskers, rings on every finger, and was named Passauf.
He was the chief of police.
Five bull-dogs with flat caps, noses like pistols, and lower jaws turning upward, observed me from outside.
"What do you want?" I asked Passauf.