"It is you," the older man declared, "who play the fool, and we will not have it! Mademoiselle Idiale is a Servian and a patriot. She is the friend, too, of Bellamy, the Englishman. She and he were together last night."
"Bellamy is not even on the train," Von Behrling protested. "He went north to Berlin. That itself is the proof that they know nothing. If he had had the merest suspicion, do you not think that he would have stayed with us?"
"Bellamy is very clever," Streuss answered. "There are too many of us to deal with,--he knew that. Mademoiselle Idiale is clever, too. Remember that half the trouble in life has come about through false women.
"What is it that you want?" Von Behrling demanded.
"That you travel the rest of the way with us, and speak no more with Mademoiselle."
Von Behrling drew himself up. After all, it was he who was noble; Streuss was little more than a policeman.
"I refuse!" he exclaimed. "Let me remind you, Streuss, that I am in charge of this expedition. It was I who planned it. It was I"--he dropped his voice and touched his chest--"who struck the first blow for its success. I think that we need talk no more," he went on. "I welcome your companionship. It makes for strength that we travel together. But for the rest, the enterprise has been mine, the success so far has been mine, and the termination of it shall be mine. Watch me, if you like. Stay with me and see that I am not robbed, if you fear that I am not able to take care of myself, but do not ask me to behave like an idiot."
Von Behrling stepped away quickly. The siren was already blowing from the steamer.