Page:Abroad with Mark Twain and Eugene Field.djvu/76

 "Craved information about Eliza and Marie. 'Don't know any such females,' I growled severely.

"'Mr. Clemens,' bawled the policeman, 'if you are trying to hoodwink the Royal Police of Berlin, there will be trouble. Confess now. You have an Eliza and a Marie and a Gretchen in this house.'

"'Oh, you mean the maids,' said I. 'I don't know anything about them. My Missus hires and bosses them. Ask the girls whether I am stringing you.'

"That evidently made no hit with the policeman, for he vociferated respectfully but sternly:

"'It is your duty (according to paragraph this and that of the Civil Code) as head of the household (according to paragraph so and so of the Civil Code) to be informed whether or not these girls have been properly vaccinated.'

"His 'head of the household' made me laugh, but I managed to object: 'How should I know?'

"'Don't you see them around with bare arms?'

"'Maybe I do, but I never paid enough attention to say offhand whether they wear cuticle or fur.'

"'And you didn't notice vaccination marks on their arms?'

"'Never. I can swear to that.'

"'Then you do know, that they are not vaccinated on their arms,' said the 72