"Twenty-second!" cried the prosaic lawyer, unheeding the implied inferiority to the Douglas; "there is something in that. I knew not you were of age. You have a right to decline the paternal authority. That alters the case entirely. Since you have completed your one-and-twentieth year, an elopement is less perilous." The lovers' colloquy was here interrupted by the arrival of Wirtig, accompanied by his nephew and the Englishman. The festival approached its close, and Wirtig, at last missing his daughter, and hearing that she was with Elben, hurried in great alarm to seek her. He was accompanied in his search by Alexis and the lame stranger, who conversed in English. "Is the innkeeper mad?" inquired the latter. "Does he want to borrow money of me? Or what is he driving at?" "He merely desires to make himself agreeable to you," replied Alexis. "The devil take his agreeableness. I hate such fawning ways. You know the unfortunate motive of my visit to Miffelstein. In my position, compliments and ceremony are quite out of place." "You must nevertheless endure them. They insure your safety. For a few days you must be content to pass for a great man." "There's none such in my family." "No matter. Greatness is thrust upon you. Try to persuade yourself that you are the great Scottish Unknown." "Never heard of him. What has he done?" "He has written romances." "Pshaw! I hate your scribblers. For heaven's sake, don't say I am an author." "Unfortunately I have said so already. For your own sake, beware of contradicting me. It is most unfortunate that you forgot your passport. If Prince Hector of Rauchpfeifenheim learns that you are at Miffelstein, you are no safer here than in his capital." "Curse my luck," growled the Englishman between his teeth, "and confound all smiths and boiler-makers! Had I but remained in Old England! There, if a boiler does burst, money and a letter in the paper will make all right. But the Continent is worse than a slave-market. No _habeas corpus_ here! A foreigner is no better than an outlaw, and if an accident occurs, he has no bail but leg-bail." "It is certainly very wrong of the prince to be angry at such a trifle. You were only within a hair's breadth of drowning him and his whole court. However, it is for you to choose whether or not I shall say who you really are." "Not! certainly not! To get out of this scrape, I would consent to pass for a Yankee. By all means let me be your Unknown friend." "You shall," said Alexis, laughing; "but on one condition. You must assist me to bring about the happiness of two deserving persons." "Cost any money?" inquired the stranger suspiciously. "Not a kreutzer. A few fair words, which I will teach you." "I am willing. What is to be done? Who are the persons!" "That pretty girl you were sitting by just now, and her lover, a worthy young man." "But I do not know him." "Not necessary."