He made no attempt to secure me, probably having had his instructions. We walked together to the judge’s house; he appeared to combine the functions of a judge and committing magistrate; and I was conducted into a room evidently used for the examination of prisoners. Judge ---- entered immediately, and we exchanged scrutinising glances. The leader of the anti-Swedish party was a young man, still on the right side of forty, with a very determined countenance, and a look about which there was nothing furtive or embarrassed. It was not an intellectual face. I put the man down as a strong-willed, ambitious intriguer, with courage, but not very much disinterested patriotism. ‘What is the meaning of this preposterous arrest?’ I demanded, with warmth. ‘This is an affair of State; I will examine the accused in private,’ the judge announced, not answering me directly. As soon as the room was cleared, he turned to me. ‘Who are you?’ was his first question. ‘I am a Russian,’ I answered. ‘I know that. What is your business here?’ I breathed again. I now knew that Marloff had failed to guess my identity. ‘I have come here on the track of certain forgers,’ I began, and went on to tell the story I had given to the hotel manager and the banker. Judge ---- listened incredulously. ‘I do not believe a word you have said,’ he declared. ‘Show me your papers.’ I produced the passport and credentials from the Russian police with which I had been careful to provide myself. They were, of course, forged. ‘I will retain these and ascertain if they are genuine,’ the judge observed. ‘Your Honour means that you will submit them to the suspected man,’ I returned boldly. ‘How dare you say that? How dare you call’--he hesitated for a second--‘Colonel Sigersen a suspected man? You know perfectly well who he is.’ ‘I know him to be the most skilful forger in Russia,’ I answered, not quite untruthfully. Judge ---- glared at me as if he would like to have struck me. ‘What nonsense! You know his real name.’ ‘What difference does that make, your Honour?’ ‘You know he is a man in high position, in the confidence of his Government.’ ‘I know he was, till recently. I have no doubt he is capable of pretending he is still.’ The judge was plainly disconcerted by the line I was taking. He had hoped, no doubt, that I should meet him half way. ‘On your arrival here you recognised the Count, and greeted him. He rebuffed you, as he had a perfect right to do, and denounced you to me as a spy. It is too late for you to turn round and pretend that he is a criminal. It is you who are on your defence, not he.’ ‘Your Honour has been imposed upon. But it is of no consequence. Tell me what I am charged with, and I will defend myself.’ ‘You are a spy.’ ‘In a sense that is true. I am a detective.’ ‘By whom are you employed?’ ‘Your Honour has my papers.’