At the sight of the sparrows (which had been exterminated in the towns) he cried, "How very small the pigeons are here!" Then, seeing some country peasants hunting marmots out of their holes, he asked what kind of an animal they were, whereupon the farmer he addressed told him it was an Hungarian mouse. From which it will be seen that the accomplished detective's knowledge of zoology was limited, to say the least of it. When they put up for the night at an inn on the road, Ráby noted with some surprise that Plötzlich drew his sword and laid it in the bed beside him. Ráby assured him that no danger was to be apprehended, as all the doors were barred against possible attacks from robbers. "Ah! that may be," returned the other, "but," pointing to a mouse hole, "suppose an Hungarian mouse should get in!" Meantime the long formal document which officially announced Ráby's readiness to appear before his judges to refute the charges against him, had been drawn up and sent to Pesth, and the head of the police there, as well as the district commissioner were properly notified of the same. It was growing dusk when Ráby and his two conductors arrived in Buda. And this was just as well, so that they should not be recognised. So ere the street lamps were lit they hastened to the police-station, where it had been arranged they should stay. Over the door hung the great Austrian eagle, and below a soldier guarded the great shield bearing the imperial coat of arms, which showed that here no Hungarian had jurisdiction. But the chief of the police complained loudly when he heard who his guest was, and made a very wry face at Ráby's name. "H'm," he said doubtfully, "I have received orders from the governor of the city to deliver over to him the prisoner Ráby if he should come into my power." "But we bring you the imperial mandate," exclaimed the others, "that you give a shelter here to the noble gentleman, Mr. Mathias Ráby, who is one of his Majesty's chamberlains." "Well, my friend," answered the Buda official, "remember that his Majesty is far away, while his Excellency is near." "Surely the Emperor is a greater man than the governor of Pesth," cried Mr. Plötzlich indignantly. "Well, you will see for yourselves," retorted the Buda chief, "you don't know the Pesth authorities as well as I do." "Yes, but remember we have instructions from the Kaiser," they answered. "You had better go and interview him yourselves." And off they went, leaving Ráby under the shelter of the Austrian authorities. * * * * * Arrived at the governor's palace, they were received by his Excellency, who, after seeing their credentials, asked abruptly what they desired. "We are commissioned by his Majesty to accompany hither Mr. Ráby, who is to appear for the purpose of confronting his accusers at the Pesth Assembly House shortly." "Do you mean the good-for-nothing fellow who ran away the other day from prison?"