"If he knows our names on such short notice, he'll certainly know the Guggenslockers," said Anguish to his friend, in English.
"Ah, you are looking for some one named Guggenslocker?" asked the Chief, smiling broadly and speaking excellent English. "You must not be surprised, gentlemen. I speak many languages. I heard last night that you were inquiring about one Caspar Guggenslocker, and I have racked my brain, searched my books, questioned my officers, and I am sorry to inform you that there is no such person in Edelweiss."
"I was so well assured of it, Baron Dangloss," Lorry said.
"The name is totally unknown to me, sir. May I ask why you are searching for him?"
"Certainly. I met Mr. Guggenslocker, his wife and his niece last spring in the United States. They invited me to come and see them if I ever happened to be in this part of the world. As my friend and I were near here I undertook to avail myself of their invitation."
"And they said they lived in Edelweiss, Graustark?"
"They did, and I'll humbly confess I did not know much of the principality of Graustark."
"That is certainly complimentary, but, then, we are a little out of the beaten path, so it is pardonable. I was at first under the impression that you were American detectives with extradition papers for criminals bearing the name you mention."
"Oh!" gasped Anguish. "We couldn't find ourselves if we should be separated, Captain."
The grizzly-bearded Captain laughed lightly with them, and then asked Lorry if he would object to giving him the full story of his acquaintanceship with the alleged Graustarkians. The bewildered and disheartened American promptly told all he knew about them, omitting certain tender details, of course. As he proceeded the Chief grew more and more interested, and, when at last Lorry came to the description of the strange trio, he gave a sudden start, exposed a queer little smile for a second or so, and then was as sphynxlike as before. The ever-vigilant Anguish observed the involuntary start and smile, quick as the Chief had been to recover himself, and felt a thrill of triumph. To his anger and impatience, however, the old officer calmly shook his head at the end of the narrative, and announced that he was as much in the dark as ever.
"Well, we'll search awhile for ourselves," declared Anguish, stubbornly, not at all satisfied.
"You will be wasting your time," said the Chief, meaningly.
"We've plenty to waste," retorted the other.
After a few moments they departed, Baron Dangloss accompanying them to the gate and assuring them that he and his men always would be at their command. His nation admired the American people, he warmly declared.