Gotthold protested against this decision; he felt perfectly well, and strong enough to continue the argument a long time; besides, the subject had a demoniacal charm for him. "And for that very reason we will drop it," replied Wollnow, "and instead, if you are really strong enough, I will request you to answer a few questions in relation to your unlucky drive. I will confess that I put them partly at the desire of a prominent magistrate. At least, Justizrath von Zadenig declares that no farther steps can be taken in this disagreeable matter without your deposition, and has begged me to take it down in a legal form." Gotthold looked up in astonishment--"What is the point in question?" "It concerns, in the first place, the lost money, which must, if possible, be recovered," replied Wollnow. "Poor Sellien! I am sorry for him," said Gotthold; "but I don't see how your questions and my answers can aid in its recovery." "Let us see. Do you know that Sellien had the money with him when you left Dollan?" "I am sure of it; as he did not suspect it came from me, he told me in a walk we took after dinner that Brandow had paid him, and showed me the packet, which he took out of the breast-pocket of his coat. I also saw it there during the whole evening--not without some little anxiety. I feared he might be tempted to stake the money. Fortunately he always won." "So he was gambling. Who was the loser?" "Brandow." "Did he lose much?" "I think he lost five thousand thalers to Redebas, who was the only person that had the courage to make a stand against so rash an adversary." "Of course he did not pay him on the spot." "Certainly not; and from that very circumstance arose the quarrel which ended in the others leaving the house in a rage." "Did you take any part in the dispute?" "Oh, no; Sellien perhaps was a little mixed up with it; at least Brandow made it the pretext for the rudeness that drove us also from the house." "Drove you out of the house! Very good," said Wollnow, when he had made a written record of the words. "And Sellien still had the money when you went away?" "I felt the packet when I buttoned his overcoat; he was then partially intoxicated." "And the overcoat was still buttoned when Lauterbach wanted to bandage his injuries here. So you said a short time ago, and Lauterbach confirms it. Did you make no attempt to remove his clothes at the smithy?" "No. Old Prebrow wanted to do so, but Sellien, who came to his senses for a moment, begged so earnestly to be let alone, that we desisted, and contented ourselves with making him as comfortable a bed as we could on some straw and hay in the bottom of the wagon the Prebrows had already prepared." "And did you feel the pocket-book there too?"