Meanwhile Samuel Heinzerling passed up and down his cell with long steps. His whole appearance bore a certain resemblance to an African lion condemned to imprisonment by human sagacity without losing thereby any of the original pride and strength of his noble nature. His hands crossed on his back, his head with its grey mane inclined wofully toward one shoulder, his lips tightly shut--so he walked back and forth, back and forth, the darkest and most misanthropic thoughts in his bosom. Suddenly a broad smile flitted across his features. “Most abthurd thith ith!” he muttered to himself. “Weally, though thith ith a very disagweeable affair for me to be in, there ith no denying the humour of the thituation----” He stood still. “Ith there weally any dithgwace in being outwitted by a thchoolboy? Go to, Thamuel! Did not a thelebrated king hold the ladder faw a thief to thteal his watch? Wath not even Pwince Bithmarck locked in by wuthless hands? Not to name a hundred other cases. And thtill hithtory treath thith king with rethpect. And thtill Bithmarck hath lotht none of hith reputation ath the betht diplomatitht in Europe. No, no, Thamuel! Your dignity ath thchool-mathter, ath thitizen, ath philothopher, need not thuffer by thith mortifying thituation. Retht assured, Thamuel----” He continued his walk in a self-satisfied mood; but soon he interrupted himself anew. “But thothe boyth!” he stammered, turning pale. “When thothe boyth hear how I wath impwithoned at the _cawcer_! Fearful thought! I might ath well give up my authowity ath a teacher at onthe. And they _will_ hear it. There ith no help faw it! Ye godth, ye godth, why do ye thmite me thus?” “Herr Professor,” whispered a familiar voice at the door of the cell, “you are not yet dishonoured. Your authority is as unassailable as ever----” “Wumpf!” muttered Samuel; “you godleth fellow you! Open that door, I thay, thith minute! Conthider your earth boxed! Conthider yourthelf expelled!” “Herr Professor, I’ve come to save you! Do not insult me!” “To thave me? What impertinenthe! Open the door, or I’ll----” “Will you hear me speak, Herr Professor? I assure you all will end well.” Samuel considered. “Vewy well,” he said at last; “I’ll condethend to hear you. Thpeak----” “I only wanted to show you that my art is not quite without practical import. Forgive me if in doing so I have seemingly left out of consideration the very high esteem and respect in which I am happily conscious of always having held you!” “You are a wogue, Wumpf!” “Herr Professor! suppose you dispense me from the _carcer_ penalty, withdraw your threat regarding expulsion, and permit me to guard the most complete silence over what has passed!” “It would never do, Wumpf. You mutht hold out your time----” “Yes? Well, then, good-bye to you, Herr Professor! Don’t ring the bell too often!” “Wumpf! hear what I thay to you! Wumpf!” “Well----?”