"
"And you did not let that make any difference to you?"
"I was not afraid of infection," said Wilhelm, and smiled again.
"Perhaps not, but of being compromised," growled the magistrate.
"That idea has not troubled me as yet."
"You inherited from a friend who committed suicide a large fortune,
which you use chiefly for the benefit of Socialist workmen?"
"I use it for the benefit of the poor, and those I certainly find
more frequently among the Socialist workmen than among factory
owners and householders."
"I'll thank you to remember that this is not the place for making
bad jokes!" roared the magistrate.
"You are quite right," Wilhelm answered serenely. "I know nothing
more unpleasant than bad jokes."
Schrotter looked as if he were going to embrace his friend. He had
never seen him from this side.
"Did it never occur to you to put yourself in communication with the
clergymen of your district, these gentlemen having far greater
facilities for finding out deserving objects of charity than a
private person?"
"I will answer that question when you have had the goodness to
explain to me what connection it has with this man's denunciation."
The magistrate glared at him in a manner calculated to wither him on
the spot, but only met a quiet, smiling face which he was incapable
of intimidating.
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