THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Oh, no. I did not say that the incident did not happen. I just maintain that it could not have happened in that fashion. GRANDMOTHER. But why not? THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. On account of the details. Let us take it for granted, grandma, that as you state you commenced your exercise walk in the afternoon.... GRANDMOTHER. Yes. THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Let's say that you had household duties and started out quite late--about four o'clock. GRANDMOTHER [_disturbed, but following the cross-examination intently_]. Yes. THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Very well, you started at four o'clock. The walk was a good one and consumed--let us say one hour and a half. GRANDMOTHER. Yes. THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Yes? This brings us to half-past five o'clock. In October and in a dense forest besides at half-past five it gets fairly dark at that hour. It was then that you lost your way? THE GRANDMOTHER [_nods her head in assent_]. THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Another hour and a half spent in wandering--that brings us to seven o'clock. You now reached the night lodging of the robber--here you were resting? GRANDMOTHER. Exactly. THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Quite right. Here you were waiting and resting--now we want to allow a long time for it--three--let us say--three and a half hours. GRANDMOTHER [_involuntarily_]. Not that long.... THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Oh, yes ... let us ... we'll then have reached half-past ten o'clock. It could not have been later when this forest bandit came. These pirates never go to their bed earlier. They shun light and must get their sleep while the world is the darkest. He could not sleep during the day even in the darkest forests. In short, then, it was half-past ten? GRANDMOTHER. Half-past ten. THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. Now began the flight and the pursuit. You ran--let us say--full twenty minutes. That is a great deal. I was a track runner in college and I know what a twenty-minute stretch means. Shall we say twenty minutes? GRANDMOTHER. Twenty minutes.... THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. In any circumstances it was not even eleven when you were safely out of danger? GRANDMOTHER. Yes. THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. And--and a half hour later you were sipping hot brandy in the Schwanhausen castle? GRANDMOTHER. Yes. [_The Disagreeable Young Man is silent._] GRANDMOTHER [_shaking with excitement_]. And--what else? [_The Disagreeable Young Man is silent._] GRANDMOTHER [_she shakes with fear as to what will follow, but forces herself to face it_]. Well, say on ... what else?... THE DISAGREEABLE YOUNG MAN. At six on the following morning you reached your home and.... [_He pauses._] GRANDMOTHER [_if her loud-speaking could be called an outcry, then she cries out_]. Yes ... what else?... What happened then?... Go on ... say it ... what else?