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he should still keep his anger within bounds。
Morok again approached the judge； and glancing at the orphans；
recommenced speaking in a low voice。 〃Oh〃 cried the burgomaster； with；
indignation； 〃you go too far now。〃
〃I affirm nothing；〃 said Morok； hastily； 〃it is a mere supposition
founded on〃 and he again brought his lips close to the ear of the
judge。
〃After all； why not？〃 resumed the magistrate； lifting up his hands； 〃such
people are capable of anything。 He says that he brings them from the
heart of Siberia： why may not all this prove to be a tissue of impudent
falsehoods？But I am not to be made a dupe twice；〃 cried the
burgomaster； in an angry tone； for； like all persons of a weak and
shifting character； he was without pity for those whom he thought capable
of having beguiled his compassion。
〃Do not be in a hurry to decidedon't give to my words more weight than
they deserve；〃 resumed Morok with a hypocritical affectation of humility。
〃I am unhappily placed in so false a position with regard to this man；〃
pointing to Dagober〃that I might be thought to have acted from private
resentment for the injury he has done me； perhaps I may so act without
knowing it； while I fancy that I am only influenced by love of justice；
horror of falsehood； and respect for our holy religion。 Wellwho lives
long enough will knowand may heaven forgive me if I am deceived！In
any case； the law will pronounce upon it； and if they should prove
innocent； they will be released in a month or two。〃
〃And； for that reason； I need not hesitate。 It is a mere measure of
precaution； they will not die of it。 Besides； the more I think of it；
the more it seems probable。 Yes this man is doubtless a French spy or
agitator； especially when I compare these suspicions with the late
demonstration of the students at Frankfort。〃
〃And； upon that theory； nothing is better fitted to excite and stir up
those hot…headed youths than〃 He glanced significantly at the two
sisters； then； after a pause； he added with a sigh； 〃Satan does not care
by what means he works out his ends！〃
〃Certainly； it would be odious； but well…devised。〃
〃And then； Mr Burgomaster； look at him attentively： you will see that
this man has a dangerous face。 You will see〃
In continuing thus to speak in a low tone； Morok had evidently pointed to
Dagobert。 The latter； notwithstanding his self…command； felt that the
restraint he had imposed upon himself； since his arrival at this unlucky
inn； and above all wince the commencement of the conversation between
Morok and the burgomaster； was becoming no longer bearable； besides； he
saw clearly that all his efforts to conciliate the favor of the judge
were rendered completely null by the fatal influence of the brute…tamer；
so； losing patience； he advanced towards him with his arms folded on his
breast； and said to him in a subdued voice： 〃Was it of me that you were
whispering to Mr。 Burgomaster？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Morok； looking fixedly at him。
〃Why did you not speak out loud？〃 Having said this； the almost
convulsive movement of his thick moustache； as he stood looping Morok
full in the face； gave evidence of a severe internal conflict。 Seeing
that his adversary preserved a contemptuous silence； he repeated in a
sterner voice： 〃I ask you； why you did not speak out loud to Mr。
Burgomaster； when you were talking of me？〃
〃Because there are some things so shameful； that one would blush to utter
them aloud；〃 answered Morok insolently。
Till then Dagobert had kept his arms folded； he now extended them
violently； clenching his fists。 This sudden movement was so expressive
that the two sisters uttered a cry of terror； and drew closer to him。
〃Hark ye； Mr。 Burgomaster！〃 said the soldier； grinding his teeth with
rage： 〃bid that man go down； or I will not answer for myself！〃
〃What！〃 said the burgomaster； haughtily； 〃do you dare to give orders to
me？〃
〃I tell you to make that man go down；〃 resumed Dagobert； quite beside
himself； 〃or there will be mischief！〃
〃Dagobert！good heaven！be calm；〃 cried the children； grasping his
hands。
〃It becomes you； certainlymiserable vagabond that you arenot to say
worse；〃 returned the burgomaster； in a rage： 〃it becomes you to give
orders to me！Oh！ you think to impose upon me； by telling me you have
lost your papers！It will not serve your turn； for which you carry about
with you these two girls； who； in spite of their innocent looks； are
perhaps after all〃
〃Wretch！〃 cried Dagobert； with so terrible a voice and gesture that the
official did not dare to finish。 Taking the children by the arm before
they could speak a word； the soldier pushed them back into the chamber；
then； locking the door； and putting the key into his pocket； he returned
precipitately towards the burgomaster； who； frightened at the menacing
air and attitude of the veteran； retreated a couple of steps； and held by
one hand to the rail of the staircase。
〃Listen to me！〃 said the soldier； seizing the judge by the arm。 〃Just
now； that scoundrel insulted meI bore with itfor it only concerned
myself。 I have heard patiently all your idle talk； because you seemed
for a moment to interest yourself in those poor children。 But since you
have neither soul； nor pity； nor justiceI tell you that； burgomaster
though you areI will spurn you as I would spurn that dog；〃 pointing
again to the Prophet； 〃if you have the misfortune to mention those two
young girls； in any other way than you would speak of your own child！
Now； do you mark me？〃
〃What！you dare to say；〃 cried the burgomaster； stammering with rage；
〃that if I happen to mention two adventuresses〃
〃Hats off！when you speak of the daughters of the Duke of Ligny；〃 cried
the soldier； snatching the cap of the burgomaster and flinging it on the
ground。 On this act of aggression； Morok could not restrain his joy。
Exasperated and losing all hope； Dagobert had at length yielded to the
violence of his anger； after struggling so painfully against it for some
hours。
When the burgomaster saw his cap at his feet； he looked at the brute…
tamer with an air of stupefaction； as if he hesitated to believe so great
an enormity。 Dagobert； regretting； his violence； and feeling that no
means of conciliation note remained； threw a rapid glance around him；
and； retreating several paces； gained the topmost steps of the staircase。
The burgomaster stood near the bench； in a corner of the landing… place；
whilst Morok； with his arm in the sling； to give the more serious
appearance to his wound； was close beside him。 〃So！〃 cried the
magistrate； deceived by the backward movement of Dagobert； 〃you think to
escape； after daring to lift hand against me！Old villain！〃
〃Forgive me； Mr。 Burgomaster！ It was a burst of rashness that I was not
able to control。 I am sorry for it；〃 said Dagobert in a repentant voice；
and hanging his head humbly。
〃No pity for thee； rascal！ You would begin again to smooth me over with
your coaxing ways； but I have penetrated your secret designs。 You are
not what you appear to be； and there is perhaps an affair of state at the
bottom of all this；〃 added the magistrate； in a very diplomatic