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To him the Marquis addressed the question: "Bernhoff has been with the King?" "Yes. For more than an hour." "Any robbery in the palace?" De Launay smiled. "I think not! So far as I am permitted to be cognisant of events, there is nothing wrong!" The Marquis looked slightly perplexed. "The King is well?" "Remarkably well and in excellent humour!
By merest chance he had learned that Del Fortis had applied for permission to 'confess' the would-be destroyer of his life, the life which Lotys had saved, and acting as he had lately accustomed himself to do on a sudden first idea or instinct, he had summoned General Bernhoff to escort him to the prison, and make the way easy for him to watch and overhear the interview between priest and penitent, himself unobserved.
Carl Perousse, leaving the House by a private door of egress, shamed, disgraced and crestfallen as he was, dared not trust the very sight of himself to such an overwhelming multitude, and managed by lucky chance to escape unobserved. He was assisted in this manoeuvre by General Bernhoff.
"If I did not there might be trouble!" Perousse looked at him sharply, but seeing the wooden-like impassiveness of his countenance, forced a smile. "There might indeed!" he said; "Your tact and discretion, General, do much to keep the city quiet. But this affair of Pasquin Leroy is a private matter." "Distinctly so!" agreed Bernhoff quietly; "I hold the position entirely!"
"Yet the mob often wins, not only by excess of numbers, but by sheer force of honesty!" said Bernhoff sententiously; "It has been known to sweep away, and re-make political constitutions before now." "It has," agreed Perousse, drawing pens and paper towards him, and feigning to be busily occupied in the commencement of a letter "But it will not indulge itself in such amusements during my time!"
"I was not in office." "Why do you not hang or shoot him now?" "Why? Because " "Because," interrupted Bernhoff, again lifting his grim warning finger; "If you did, the city would be in a tumult and more than half the soldiery would be on the side of the mob!
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!
They shook hands, not over cordially, and parted; and as soon as Perousse heard the wheels of the Premier's carriage grinding away from his outer gate, he applied himself vigorously to the handle of one of the numerous telephone wires fitted up near his desk, and after getting into communication with the quarter he desired, requested General Bernhoff, Chief of the Police, to attend upon him instantly.
"We entertain different opinions on the matter, it is evident!" he said; "You will at least grant that if he cannot be arrested, he can be carefully watched?" "He is carefully watched!" replied Bernhoff; "That is to say, as far as I can watch him!" "Good!" and Perousse smiled, somewhat relieved. "Then on the first suspicion of a treasonable act "
"Proofs should be easy enough for you to obtain," said Perousse fiercely; "And the King will sign any warrant he is told. At least, you can surely find this rascal out? where he lives, and what are his means of subsistence?" "If he were here, I could," responded Bernhoff calmly; "I have made all the necessary preliminary enquiries. The man is a gentleman of considerable wealth.
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