“What, if I know nothing?”
“Then I must lay the case before the government, and you will, in the meanwhile, remain closely confined.”
“And then?”
“Then you run the risk of being flogged over the border as a vagrant, or, if mercy is shown, of being placed among the recruits.”
He was silent for some minutes, and appeared to be undergoing a severe contest, then he suddenly turned to the judge.
“Can I be alone with you for a quarter of an hour?”
The jury cast ambiguous glances at one another, but withdrew at a commanding sign from their head.
“Now, what do you want?”
“Your demeanour of yesterday, Herr Superior, would never have brought me to a confession, for I set force at defiance. The moderation with which you have treated me to-day has given me confidence and respect for you. I think that you are an honourable man.”
“What have you to say to me?”