"
"What and whom were you expecting?" demanded the Englishman.
"You shall not leave this room till you have fully explained
this remarkable intrusion."
"We were expecting the Lord and Baronet Fitzgerald."
"The lord!" laughing. "Does the lord visit Bleiberg often, then,
that you prepare this sort of a reception? And the Baronet
Fitzgerald?"
"They are the same and the one person."
"And who the deuce is he; a spy, a smuggler, a villain, or what?"
"As to that, Monsieur," with a wonder why this man laughed, "I
know no more than you. But I do know that for the past month
every Englishman has been subjected to this surveillance, and
has submitted with more grace than you," with an oblique glance.
"What! Examined his luggage at the hotel?"
"Yes, Monsieur. It is the order of the minister of police. I
know not why." The natural color was returning to his cheeks.
"This is a fine country, I must say. At least the king should
acquaint his visitors with the true cause of this treatment." In
his turn the Englishman resorted to oblique glances.
"The king?" The inspector raised a shoulder and spread his hands.
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