"Colleague!" exclaimed Dr. Cijfer, in gentle expostulation. And then, as he enclosed Markus's head with the shining craniometer, he gave the measurement figures. A considerable time passed, nothing being heard save the low voice of the doctor dictating the figures. Then, as if proceeding with his present occupation, taking advantage of what he considered a compliant mood of the patient, the crafty doctor fancied he saw his opportunity, and said: "Your parents certainly dwelt in another country--one more southerly and more mountainous." But Markus removed the doctor's hand, with the instrument, from his head, and looked at him piercingly. "Why are you not sincere?" asked he then, with gentle stress. "How can truth be found through untruth?" Dr. Cijfer hesitated, and then did exactly what Father Canisius had done--something which, later, he was of the opinion he ought not to have done: he argued with him. "But if you will not give me a direct reply I am obliged to get the truth circuitously." Said Markus, "A curved sword will not go far into a straight scabbard." Professor Bommeldoos grew impatient, and snapped at the doctor aside in a smothered voice: "Do not argue, Colleague, do not argue! Megalomaniacs are smarter, and sometimes have subtler dialectic faculties, than you have. Just let _me_ conduct the examination." And then, after a loud "h'm! h'm!" he said to Markus: "Well, my friend, then I will talk straight out to you. It is better so, is it not? Then will you give me a direct reply?" Markus looked at him for some time, and said: "You cannot." "I cannot! Cannot what?" "Talk," replied Markus. "I cannot talk! Well, well! I cannot talk! Colleague, you will perhaps take note of that. You say I cannot talk. What am I now doing?" "Stammering," said Markus. "Exactly--exactly! All men stammer. The doctor stammers, and I stammer, and Hegel stammers, and Kant stammers...." "They do," said Markus. "Mijnheer Vis, then, is the only one who can talk. Is it not so?" "Not with you," replied Markus. "In order to talk one must have a hearer who can understand." Dr. Cijfer smiled, and whispered, not without a shade of irony, "Take care, Colleague! You also err in dialectics." But Bommeldoos angrily shook his round head with its bulbous cheeks, and continued: "That is to say that you consider yourself wiser than all other men? Note the reply, Colleague." "I think myself wiser than you," said Markus. "Decide yourself whether this means wiser than all other men." "I have made a note of the reply," said Dr. Cijfer, while a sound of satisfaction came from his pursed-up lips. Yet the professor took no notice of these ironical remarks, and proceeded: "Now just tell me, frankly, my friend, are you a prophet? An apostle? Are you perhaps the King? Or are you God himself?" Markus was silent. "Why do you not answer now?" "Because I am not being questioned." "Not being questioned! What, then, am I now doing?" "Raving," said Markus.