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The Criminal From Lost Honour
by
“Forgive me for the first outbreak, sir, if I accosted you somewhat hardly yesterday.”
“Very readily, if you treat me thus.”
“Our laws are severe, and your affair made a noise. I cannot release you without committing a breach of duty. Appearance is against you, and I wish you would say something, by which it might be refuted.”
“What, if I know nothing?”
“Then I must lay the case before the government, and you will, in the meanwhile, remain closely confined.”
“And then?”
“Then you run the risk of being flogged over the border as a vagrant, or, if mercy is shown, of being placed among the recruits.”
He was silent for some minutes, and appeared to be undergoing a severe contest, then he suddenly turned to the judge.
“Can I be alone with you for a quarter of an hour?”
The jury cast ambiguous glances at one another, but withdrew at a commanding sign from their head.
“Now, what do you want?”
“Your demeanour of yesterday, Herr Superior, would never have brought me to a confession, for I set force at defiance. The moderation with which you have treated me to-day has given me confidence and respect for you. I think that you are an honourable man.”
“What have you to say to me?”
“I see that you are an honourable man; I have long wished for a man like you. Give me, I pray, your right hand.”
“To what end?”
“That head is gray and reverend. You have been long in the world–have felt many sorrows–is it not so? And have become more humane.”
“Sir, to what does this tend?”
“You are now distant by only one step from eternity–soon, soon will you need mercy from God. You will not deny it to man. Do you suspect nothing? With whom do you suppose you are speaking?”
“What do you mean? You terrify me.”
“If you do not already suspect–write to your prince how you found me, and that I myself of my free choice was my own betrayer–that God will be merciful unto him as he now shows mercy unto me. Entreat for me, old man, and then let a tear fall on your report: I am–the ‘Host of the Sun.'”
J. O.
[1] These questions appear the same in English, but the first in German is “Wer seyd Ihr,” and the second “Wer sind Sie.” According to German usage the latter alone is courteous.