No, at a more convenient time. To-morrow or the next day. Let him bring a few of the books in question with him. [_To MITTELDORF._] You seem to take naps all day. Or perhaps the man has good cigars and knows how to invest them! MITTELDORF Your honour...! WEHRHAHN Never mind! Never mind! I will inspect the necessary persons myself. My honourable predecessor has permitted a state of affairs to obtain that...! We will change all that by degrees--It is simply disgraceful for a police official to permit himself to be deceived by any one. That is, of course, entirely beyond your comprehension. [_To GLASENAPP._] Didn't Motes say anything definite? GLASENAPP I can't say that he did--nothing definite. He was of the opinion that your honour was informed.... WEHRHAHN In a very general way, I am. I have had my eye on the man in question for some time--on this Dr. Fleischer I mean. Mr. Motes simply confirmed me in my own entirely correct judgment of his peculiar character.--What kind of a reputation has Motes himself? [_GLASENAPP and_ MITTELDORF exchange glances and GLASENAPP shrugs his shoulders._] Lives largely on credit, eh? GLASENAPP He says he has a pension. WEHRHAHN Pension? GLASENAPP Well, you know he got shot in the eye. WEHRHAHN So his pension is really paid as damages. GLASENAPP Beggin' your honour's pardon, but if it's a question of damages the man inflicts more than he's ever received. Nobody's ever seen him have a penny for anything. WEHRHAHN [_Amused._] Is there anything else of importance? GLASENAPP Nothing but minor matters, your honour--somebody giving notice-- WEHRHAHN That'll do; that'll do. Do you happen ever to have heard any reports to the effect that this Dr. Fleischer does not guard his tongue with particular care? GLASENAPP Not that I know of at this moment. WEHRHAHN Because that is the information that has come to me. He is said to have made illegal remarks concerning a number of exalted personages. However, all that will appear in good time. We can set to work now. Mitteldorf, have you anything to report? MITTELDORF They tell me that a theft has been committed during the night. WEHRHAHN A theft? Where? MITTELDORF In the Villa Krueger. WEHRHAHN What has been stolen? MITTELDORF Some firewood. WEHRHAHN Last night, or when? MITTELDORF Just last night. WEHRHAHN From whom does your information come? MITTELDORF My information? It come from ... from.... WEHRHAHN Well, from whom? Out with it! MITTELDORF I heard it from--I got it from Dr. Fleischer. WEHRHAHN Aha! You're in the habit then of conversing with him? MITTELDORF Mr. Krueger told me about it himself too. WEHRHAHN The man is a nuisance with his perpetual complaints. He writes me about three letters a week. Either he has been cheated, or some one has broken his fence, or else some one has trespassed on his property. Nothing but one annoyance after another. MOTES