Try a little bluffing

Realizing they are not likely to escape, Xabar decides to take the initiative. Looking at Blake, he says, “Follow my lead.” Without waiting for a response, Xabar steps out of the shadows and walks directly toward Mrs. Peterson and the constable.

“There he is now, the horny little fiend!” cries the innkeeper, pointing a furious finger at Xabar. “Put him in irons while I go get the castrating knife from the hog farmer!”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” whispers Blake, while Gwendolyn looks on with puzzlement.

Xabar takes a deep breath to calm his nerves. “Ah, officer! I’m so glad you found her! Thank you for rounding her up before she could hurt herself.”

The constable takes several steps toward Xabar, but stops in confusion when he hears the young man’s words. “What’s that?”

Xabar focuses his gaze on Mrs. Peterson and says, “Yes, I’m afraid her condition has deteriorated to the point where she really shouldn’t be left alone anymore, I’m sad to say. Thank goodness you were on hand, or there’s no telling what she might have done.”

The constable gives Xabar a confused look and says, “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but Mrs. Peterson has made some very serious charges against you: theft, fraud, and above all else, deflowering her daughter.”

Xabar barely suppresses an indignant chortle. Theft and fraud are certainly legitimate claims, but if Mrs. Peterson thought her daughter was a virgin before Xabar got his hands on her, then his story about her mental condition may not be as exaggerated as he thought!

Regaining his composure, he says, “I’m sure she said a lot of things. Did she tell you that she’s been under my care for some time now because of the onset of Millingford’s Syndrome?”

Mrs. Peterson’s mouth falls open in disbelief. “Why, of all the outlandish —“

The constable cuts her off with a gesture and asks, “Millingford’s Syndrome? What is that? And, incidentally, who are you?”

Xabar steps forward confidently and offers his hand to the constable. “Dr. Hager Mendohlsen, specialist in derangements and other diseases.” Inwardly he winces, realizing that the first name that came to mind was that of his best friend. Hopefully that wouldn’t come back on anyone and create problems.

“Mrs. Peterson is in the secondary stages of a disease that cloaks the mind in delusion and feelings of paranoia. It’s quite harmless at first, but once it gets to this stage, I’m afraid it requires some more direct intervention.”

The constable looks at Xabar doubtfully. “You look awfully young to be a physician.”

“Thank you,” he replies. “That’s clean living for you! Why, just the other day, someone mistook me for a senior at Häzadertroth’s Academy! Can you believe it?” He laughs — perhaps a little too much.

“Why, of all the outlandish —!” protests a furious Mrs. Peterson. “I demand you arrest this hooligan at once!”

The constable studies Xabar intently for a moment before saying, “I’m going to need to see some kind of evidence of what you are saying.”