Paul was among the first to fulfill this duty of citizenship,
and then handed the pen to his friend. But Wilhelm laid it down on
the table, took Paul's arm, and drew him out of the crowd into the
quiet of the Friedrichstrasse.
"Are you a Prussian?" cried Paul angrily.
"I am as good a Prussian as you are," said Wilhelm quietly, "and
ready to do my duty again, as I have done it before, but these silly
effusions don't affect me at all."
"Such a manifesto gives the government the moral force for the
sternest fulfillment of duty."
"I hope you are not in earnest when you say that, my dear Paul. The
government does what it has to do without troubling itself about our
manifestoes. It is repugnant to me to have my approval of the war
dragged from me without being asked for it. I may not appear to say
'yes' willingly, but at the same time may not have the right to say
'no.'"
Paul followed silently, and Wilhelm went on:
"You deceive yourself as to your duty like all these people, who
imagine that they are still separate individuals, and that they can
sanction or forbid as they will the declaration of war. I, however,
know and feel that I have no longer a voice in the matter. I have
only to obey. I am no longer an individual.
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