"
"I need no instruction from you," the other returned angrily.
"It would seem so, however" Schrotter calmly rejoined.
The magistrate grunted several times and then asked, after a pause,
during which he was particularly busy with his ear:
"You admit the statement, then?"
"Not altogether. It is true that I said the attempt on the emperor's
life had no general significance, but I meant by that and the rest
of what I said, that if the political parties should make this
isolated crime (committed by an undoubtedly insane person) the
excuse for adopting measures inimical to the liberty of the public
in general, they would be doing something both unjustifiable and
reprehensible."
"Can he have said that?" asked the magistrate, turning to Patke.
"I don't know. I only know what I said just now."
Renewed grunting, renewed digging in the ear and turning over of
papers. "Hm--hm," he muttered to himself testily, "that is not
enough. It is too indefinite, in spite of strong grounds for
suspicion." Then he looked up, and in a tone which was meant to
convey as much scorn as possible, he asked Schrotter--"You played a
part in the political events of 1848?"
"Yes, and the recollection of it is the pride of my life."
"I did not ask you about that.
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