“What can I do for you, Herr Professor?” she asked with a dainty curtsey. “Where is your father?” whispered Samuel, with a remarkably pure pronunciation for him. “He is papering. Is there anything you wish him to do, Herr Professor?” “Ah, he ith papawing. Well, then, I will not dithturb him. It ith of no consequenth, Annie; I dare thay the key is on the _cawcer_?” “I will run and ask, Herr Professor.” She ran down the stairs like a deer, and was back in a few seconds. “Yes, sir; the keys are on the hall door as well as on the cell. Is there anything else?” “No; I thank you.” Annie turned to go, while Samuel looked after her with a smile. He passed his hand once or twice over his closely-shaved chin, then he took his hat from the table and ascended the stairs to the _carcer_. Wilhelm Rumpf was greatly surprised when after so short a time of imprisonment the door turned on its hinges. His astonishment reached its climax when he recognised Professor Samuel Heinzerling. “Well, Wumpf?” said that philosopher with dignity. “What do you wish, Herr Professor?” responded the pupil in a tone of resolute obstinacy. “I have come to athk if you are not beginning to thee that thuch puerilenetheth are out of plathe altogether in a gymnathium, and that----” “I am not at all aware of having done----” “What, Wumpf? I did not expect to find you tho thtubborn! I wish you would put yourthelf in my plathe. I am sure you would be much more thevere with thith unmanageable Wilhelm Wumpf than I have been, eh?” “Herr Professor----” “Surely thuch childish conduct ith not what one would expect of a young man of good family. You’d betht be on your guard, for the next time I catch you in a thcwape I shall expel you!” “Expel me?” “Yes, Wumpf, expel you. So you would do well to turn over a new leaf, and let your dithgratheful nonthenthe go. I wepeat it, put yourself in my place!” Wilhelm Rumpf lowered his head. He felt that his expulsion was only a matter of time. Suddenly a diabolical thought took possession of his brain. “If I must get expelled,” he said to himself, “it shall be with flying colours.” He smiled like the villainous hero of a sensational novel after some dark deed, and said in a tone of simulated humility-- “You say, sir, I should put myself in your place?” “Yes, Wumpf, that ith what I thay.” “Well then, seeing you will have it so,--I wish you much pleasure!” And with a single bound he was outside the door, turned the key, and left the poor professor to his deplorable fate. “Wumpf! what ith thith you are up to? I’ll exthpel you thith vewy day! Open the door at onthe! At onthe, I thay!” “I give you two hours’ _cawcer_,” replied Rumpf with dignity. “You told me to put mythelf in your plathe!” “Wumpf! you will thee what will happen! Open the door; I inthitht upon it!”