He had seen the court assembled--the room was filled with people and his trial was going on.

Then, stopping suddenly in his narration, he gazed wildly at his companion, and exclaimed: "If you are a detective, you have made a nice catch this time.

But, you see I have a steady hand yet, and if you were to take the stand against me, I would rise in my place and denounce you to the court.
Then I would plunge a knife into my heart." The detective looked unflinchingly and scornfully into the glaring eyes of the man before him, and laughed lightly at his ravings.

He resolved, however, in order to prevent accidents, that every precaution should be taken against the occurrence of such a scene.
He had no fear that Bucholz would do what he threatened.

At heart he knew the man to be a coward.