ret, which enchanted the hearer and completed his
revocation of the bad opinion of the rough suitor of his daughter. Still
the Jew had not laid aside all his habitual caution and he did not by
word or movement betray that he had an acquaintance with his champion.
"I see that I must drop all flourishes and speak unfettered," went on
the major, bluntly. "In two words, our brawl has got to the ears of the
provost-marshal as well as those of the town guardians, and the search
is going to be thorough for that young gentleman. I know it is absurd,
and I protested against it, but the idea has penetrated their wooden
heads that he is one of those tramp-students who are permeating the
masses--worse, the dangerous classes--with seditious ideas, and they
think he and Baboushka's gang too long lording it in the poor quarter,
are hand and glove. In fact, in a day or two--perhaps now--the forces
will be a-foot in uniform and in disguise to make a keen and searching
inspection of the dwellings suspected of harboring the liberal-minded;
and God knows that you have, Herr Daniels, chosen a veritable hot-bed!
Two months ago, we arrested a Nihilist with a portmanteau full of glass
bombs, luckily uncharged, in the attic upstairs; not three weeks since,
two Hungarian malcontents were stopped at the door--but why enter into
these details, fitter for the police than a soldier to relate? You, of
course, were not told of these blots on this hotel's fame or you would
have selected it as the last roof to shelter your talented daughter. It
is one thing to cross swords--I mean staves--with a man, and another to
guide the watchmen to clap their coarse paws on his shoulder. I have
made honorable amends, I hope, to the lady and yourself, for my
rudeness; as for the gallant fellow, I bear him no ill will--on the
contrary! since I could wish to meet with him again, and tell him that
the Great Prison of Munich is not badly constructed and promises little
chance of an escape. I beg you to convey the warning to him that he must
lose not one instant if he can escape beyond the walls."
Still Daniels believed it prudent, if not polite, to make no
compromising admission. But the speaker was not offended. He smiled
wisely, not without good humor, and offered his hand so frankly that the
Jew again took it and this time slightly returned the generous pressure.
But on the way to the door, he was stopped by the entrance of Rebecca.
Although she was clad in the p
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