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"If you feel inclined to jest, Max Graub, I must warn you that jesting is not suited to the immediate moment." "Jesting! I never was more in earnest in my life!" declared Graub, "Why have I left my native country? Merely because it is governed by Kaiser Wilhelm!" Thord smiled again.
"Will you all three come over the way?" whispered Zegota cautiously; "We are entertaining Lotys to supper at the inn opposite, the landlord is one of us. Thord saw you sitting here, and sent me to ask you to join us." "With pleasure," assented Leroy; "We will come at once!" Zegota nodded and disappeared. "So you will see the end of this escapade!" said Max Graub, a trifle crossly.
"And now, gentlemen," he proceeded; "I should perhaps make some excuses for my two friends, known to you as Max Graub and Axel Regor. I told you I would be responsible for their conduct, and, so far as they have been permitted to go, they have behaved well!
Pasquin Leroy, whose eyes had been riveted on her from the first to the last word of her oration, now started as from a dream, and rose up half-unconsciously, passing his hand across his brow, as though to exorcise some magnetic spell that had crept over his brain. His face was flushed, his pulses were throbbing quickly. His companions, Max Graub and Axel Regor, looked at him inquisitively.
By and by Max Graub came out and beckoned to him, and after a little earnest conversation Bernhoff walked off altogether, the ring of his martial heels echoing for some time along the pavement, even after he had disappeared. And from within the lighted tavern came the sound of a deep, harmonious, swinging chorus "Way, make way! for our banner is unfurled, Let each man stand by his neighbour!
"That will depend on my humour!" said Leroy, still smiling; "You will require my permission to enter into combat with the last enemy before he offers challenge!" Max Graub here approached them with a warning finger laid on his lips. "Hush sh sh!" he said; "Think as much as you like, but talk as little as you can!
Or organize meetings?" "I think," said Graub, speaking very deliberately, "that of all my various accomplishments, which are many as I shall one day prove to you I can poison best!" "Poison!" The exclamation broke simultaneously from all the company. Graub looked about him with a triumphant air. "Ah so, I know I shall be useful," he said; "I can poison so very beautifully and well!
A low, deep murmur responded to his words, a sound like the snarl of wolves, deep, fierce, and passionate. A close observer might perhaps have detected a sudden pallor on Leroy's face as he heard this ominous growl, and an involuntary clenching of the hand on the part of Axel Regor. Max Graub looked up. "Ah so, my friends! You hate the King?" No answer was vouchsafed to this query.
"What a very matter-of-fact statement in favour of kings!" exclaimed Max Graub; "Here is a child who does not care a button for a king as king; but she thinks he would be useful as a figure-head to dance to, for idiotic Fashion, grouping itself idiotically around the figure- head, would want to see her dance also and then oh simple conclusion! she would be able to support her father!
The three strangers advanced. "Your names? Each one answer separately, please!" "Pasquin Leroy!" "Axel Regor!" "Max Graub!" "Of what nationality, Pasquin Leroy?" Leroy smiled. "Truly I claim none!" he said; "I was born a slave." "A slave!" The words were repeated in tones of astonishment round the room. "Why, yes, a slave!" repeated Leroy quietly.
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