nd
him, took off Bratzky and all his things, mounted him on one of the
horses, and off with him into the bush. Two of them remained with the
carriage, and obliged the driver to turn out of the road into a thicket,
and there they staid two whole hours, holding their loaded pistols at
the gendarme and the driver all the time. The driver said the horses
were gentlemen's horses, and that the riders spoke like gentry. The
gendarme was bruised, but otherwise unhurt, and they took your paper
away from him."

Anton and Karl looked at each other significantly, and thought of the
party of the day before.

"Where is the man who has brought the news?" asked Anton, snatching up
his hat.

"He was in a hurry to get on before dark. To-morrow we shall hear more.
Such a thing has not happened for years as mounted men falling upon a
carriage with a gendarme in it. When a robbery has been committed, it
has always been on foot."

"Did you know the riders who were in the village yesterday afternoon,
and who were calling for the steward?" inquired Anton.

The host cast a sly glance at him, and seemed reluctant to answer.

"Nay," continued Anton, "you must have known them all; they belonged to
this part of the country."

"Why should not I know them?" replied the landlord, in some
perturbation. "It was the rich Herr von Tarow himself with his guests. A
powerful man, Mr. Wohlfart, who has the command of the police on your
property too. And as to what he wanted with Bratzky? Bratzky, as
inspector, has had to do with the police, and has often been employed by
the gentry in buying and selling horses, and in other ways too. If the
head of the police wanted to speak to the inspector, why should not he?
The Von Tarows are a clever set, who know what they are about in
speaking and acting." So far the landlord, with much fluency, but his
eyes and the expression of his countenance told a very different tale.

"You have a suspicion," cried Anton, looking fixedly at him.

"God preserve me from all suspicion!" continued the landlord, horrified
at the idea. "And Mr. Wohlfart, if you will allow me to tell you my
opinion, why should you go and suspect any one either? You will have
enough to do on the property here, and will need the gentry round in
many ways. Why should you make enemies for no purpose? This is a country
where the gentlemen ride in parties, and then divide, put their heads
together, and then start off in different directions. He is w