“In other words, friend Cardillac, you are too clever for the authorities here?
“Yes, that’s it,” said the insane man greatly flattered. He raised his head proudly and smiled down at his guest. At this moment the doctor came into the room and Gyuri walked forward to the group at the window.
“You are making him nervous, sir,” he said to Muller in a tone that was almost harsh.
“You can leave that to me,” answered the detective calmly. “And you will please place yourself behind Mr. Varna’s chair, not behind mine. It is your eyes that are making him uneasy.”
The attendant was alarmed and lost control of himself for a moment. “Sir!” he exclaimed in an outburst.
“My name is Muller, in case you do not know it already, Joseph Muller, detective. Gyuri Kovacz, you will do what I tell you to! I am master here just now. Is it not so, doctor?”
“Yes, it is so,” said the doctor.
“What does this mean?” murmured Gyuri, turning pale.
“It means that the best thing for you to do is to stand up against that wall and fold your arms on your breast,” said Muller firmly. He took a revolver from his pocket and laid it beside him on the turning-lathe. The young giant, cowed by the sight of the weapon, obeyed the commands of this little man whom he could have easily crushed with a single blow.
Dr. Orszay sank down on the chair beside the door. Muller, now completely master of the situation, turned to the insane man who stood looking at him in a surprise which was mingled with admiration.
“And now, my dear Cardillac, you must tell us of your great deeds here,” said the detective in a friendly tone.
The unfortunate man bent over him with shining eyes and whispered: “But you’ll shoot him first, won’t you?”
“Why should I shoot him?”
“Because he won’t let me say a word without beating me. He is so cruel. He sticks pins into me if I don’t do what he wants.”
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