wagons, he could neither prevent nor ascertain it, and all
responsibility ceased in troublous times like these.

"We are in a den of thieves," said the merchant to his escort; "I must
request your assistance in bringing these people to reason."

Now bringing people to reason was just what the young Pole believed to
be his speciality; so, with a smile, he took a pistol in one hand, and
said aside to Anton, "Do as I, and have the goodness to follow me." Next
he seized the wagoner by the throat, and dragged him down the stair.
"Where is the landlord?" cried he, in the most formidable tone he could
raise. "The dog of a landlord and a lantern!" The lantern being brought,
he drove the whole pack--the strangers, the fat landlord, the captured
wagoner, and all others assembled by the noise, before him into the
court-yard. Arrived there, he placed himself and his prisoner in the
centre of the circle, bestowed a few more injurious epithets upon the
landlord, rapped the wagoner on the head with his pistol, and then
courteously observed in French to the merchant, "This fellow's skull
sounds remarkably hollow; what next do you require from the boobies?"

"Have the goodness to summon the wagoners."

"Good," said the Pole; "and then?"

"Then I will examine the freight of the wagons, if it be possible to do
so in the dark."

"Every thing is possible," said the Pole, "if you like to take the
trouble to search through the old canvas in the night. But I should be
inclined to advise a bottle of Sauterne and a few hours' repose instead.
In times like these, one should not lose an opportunity of refreshing
one's self."

"I should prefer to inspect the wagons at once," said the merchant, with
a smile, "if you have no objection to it."

"I am on duty," replied the Pole, "therefore let's to work at once;
there are plenty of hands here to hold lights for you. You confounded
rascals," continued he, in Polish, again cuffing the wagoner and
threatening the landlord, "I will carry you all off together, and have a
court-martial held upon you, if you do not instantly bring all the
drivers belonging to this gentleman into my presence. How many of them?"
inquired he, in French, from the merchant.

"There are fourteen wagons," was the reply.

"There must be fourteen wagoners," thundered the Pole again to the
people; "the devil shall fly away with you all if you do not instantly
produce them." With the help of an old domestic servant, a dozen