Why, I have known him even try to sell his own father! At all events he staked him at cards." "Indeed?
You interest me.

I should never had thought him capable of such things." "I always guessed him to be so." The two ladies were still discussing the matter with acumen and success when there walked into the room the Public Prosecutor--bushy eyebrows, motionless features, blinking eyes, and all.

At once the ladies hastened to inform him of the events related, adducing therewith full details both as to the purchase of dead souls and as to the scheme to abduct the Governor's daughter; after which they departed in different directions, for the purpose of raising the rest of the town.

For the execution of this undertaking not more than half an hour was required.

So thoroughly did they succeed in throwing dust in the public's eyes that for a while every one--more especially the army of public officials--was placed in the position of a schoolboy who, while still asleep, has had a bag of pepper thrown in his face by a party of more early-rising comrades.