"Ah, who indeed?" said Manske, looking sad. "That is the melancholy side of the affair--that someone, presumably of my parish, should commit such a crime." "He has done me a great service, anyhow," said Axel, filling the glasses. "He has imperilled his immortal soul," said Manske. "Have you such an enemy?" asked Anna, surprised. "I did not know it. Most likely it was some poor, half-witted devil, or perhaps--perhaps a child." "But I saw the blaze immediately after I passed you," said Dellwig. "You were within a stone's throw of the stables, going home. I had hardly reached them when the fire broke out. Did you then see no one on the road?" "No, I did not," said Axel shortly. There was an aggressive note in Dellwig's voice that made him fear he was going to be very zealous in helping to bring the delinquent to justice. "It was the supper hour," said Dellwig, musing, "and the men would all be indoors. Had you been to the stables, _gnädiger Herr_?" "No, I had not. Take another glass of wine. A cigar? Whoever it was, he has done me a good turn." "Beyond all doubt he has," said Dellwig, his eyes fixed on Axel with an odd expression. "Some of us would have no objection to the same thing happening at our places," remarked one of the farmers jocosely. "No objection whatever," agreed another with a laugh. "If the man could be trusted to display the same discrimination everywhere," said the third. "Joke not about crime," said Manske, rebuking them. "The discrimination was certainly remarkable," said Dellwig. "That is why I think it must have been done by some person more or less imbecile," said Axel; "otherwise one of the good buildings, whose destruction would really have harmed me, would have been chosen." "He must be hunted down, imbecile or not," said Dellwig. "I shall do my duty," said Axel stiffly. "You may rely on my help," said Dellwig. "You are very good," said Axel. Dellwig's voice had something ominous about it that made Anna shiver. What a detestable man he was, always and at all times. His whole manner to-night struck her as specially offensive. "What will be done to the poor wretch when he is caught?" she asked Axel. "He will be imprisoned," Dellwig answered promptly. She turned her back on him. "Even though he is half-witted?" she said to Axel. "Are you obliged to look for him? Can't you leave him alone? He has done you a service, after all." "I must look for him," said Axel; "it is my duty as Amtsvorsteher." "And the gracious Miss should consider----" shouted Dellwig from behind. "I'll consider nothing," said Anna, turning to him quickly. "--should consider the demands of justice----" "First the demands of humanity," said Anna, her back to him. "Noble," murmured Manske. "The gracious Miss's sentiments invariably do credit to her heart," said Dellwig, bowing profoundly. "But not to her head, he thinks," said Anna to Axel in English, faintly smiling.