"What possesses you, Excellency; are you mad? This boy--"

"Bah! What does it matter whether I finish him now or an hour
later?" he asked. "We can't let him go. I was obliged to punish
the Weasel to-night and he saw it. It seemed to affect him
unpleasantly. These American children know nothing of the value
of discipline. He is going to tell me all he knows before I
finish. The little rat--think of him defying me!"

The heel came off. Asa looked curiously. It was hollow and was
neatly packed with papers like the one in the Wolf's hand. The
Wolf turned out the precious packets, and looked them over
carefully. Ledermann looked from the Wolf intent on his papers,
to Asa, bound in the chair. He looked at the Wolf again. He
swayed a little; the drinks had gone to his head just enough to
make him unsteady and reckless. He had not intended to take so
much; the Wolf was always careful; but to-night--well, the day
had been a hard one, and the end was so near. For months he had
been under a terrific strain--Ledermann shook his head.

"See how I trust you," said the Wolf in English, looking up from
his papers, "I know you will never, never tell. Oh no, that
would be impossible! Isn't that a fine little place to hide
things?" he chuckled, and replaced the packets, screwed the heel
in place, and stamped his foot on the floor. Then he turned to
his bottle.

Ledermann had placed it beyond his reach.