Part 22 (1/2)
”Because I would not know what to do with the money.”
”Exactly so. Am I right?”
”Perfectly. But now tell me why said lady must necessarily have brown hair and brown eyes?”
”As far as I recollect, I have only spoken of dark hair and dark eyes; but if you have a decided preference for brown, Bemperlein----”
”Preferences” said Bemperlein, almost anxiously ”I have a preference!
What do you mean?”
”Bemperlein, you blus.h.!.+ That is a very suspicious sign. Do not you think so too, Franz?”
”Very suspicious,” replied Franz. ”I propose that the accused be examined most rigorously, and persuaded by every available means to make an open and full confession.”
”Yes, he must confess! he shall confess!” cried the overjoyous girl, clapping her hands; ”he shall give an account of that treacherous redness on his cheeks. Accused! I ask you, upon your conscience, do you know a lady with brown hair and brown eyes?”
”But how can you ask me that, Miss Sophie?” replied Mr. Bemperlein, blus.h.i.+ng deeper than before.
”Let your words be Yea, yea! or Nay, nay! accused, and nothing else!”
”Well then, I have!” said Bemperlein, laughing.
”And when you spoke of brown hair and brown eyes, did you think of this lady?”
”Yes!” replied Bemperlein, after some hesitation.
”Now we have him! He has thought of her! He has thought of her!” cried Miss Sophie, and laughed with delight.
”But who is _she_?” asked Franz.
”We shall learn that presently. Accused! does she live in this city?”
”Yes.”
”Franz, take that down: she lives in the city. Accused! do you see her frequently?”
”No.”
”Then, have you seen her to-day?”
”But, Miss So----”
”No subterfuges! Have you seen her to-day?”
”Well, I see I shall fare better by confessing everything at once,”
said Mr. Bemperlein, who in spite of all his efforts to appear unconcerned had become more and more embarra.s.sed. ”Hear, then, oh severe judge, and you, grave a.s.sistant judge, with your diabolic smile, the strange story which has happened to me to-day, and which seems to be specially intended to lead me from one trouble to another.”
”Tell us, Bemperlein; tell us!” cried Sophie. ”The affair begins to look romantic.”