Page:H.M. The Patrioteer.djvu/203

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THE PATRIOTEER
195

mother-in-law professed to know that he intended to resign his seat in the Reichstag—and where would all his money go if he died? To the other witnesses Pastor Zillich expressed the hope that he would leave his millions for the erection of a church, but Professor Kühnchen doubted this in a penetrating whisper. "He'll not separate himself from the money even when he's dead. He has always believed in getting what was his, and if possible what belonged to others, as well. …" Then the judge ordered the witnesses to leave the courtroom.

As there was no room for them to wait in, they found themselves again in the corridor. Messrs. Heuteufel, Cohn and Buck, junior, annexed a window-sill. Beneath the ferocious gaze of the Major, Diederich reflected painfully: "Now the defendant is being heard. If I only knew what he is saying! I would like him to be free just as much as his friends." He tried in vain to convince Pastor Zillich of his softened mood, that he had always said the whole affair was trumped up. Zillich turned away in his embarrassment, and Kühnchen went off, whistling through his teeth: "Just you wait, my boy-o, we'll cook your goose." The silent oppression of general dislike weighed upon Diederich. At length, the usher appeared. "Dr. Hessling!"

Diederich pulled himself together so as to pass through the audience in a manner worthy of a gentleman. He stared fixedly in front of him, but he felt just then that Frau Lauer was looking at him. He breathed hard and swerved a little to one side. To the left, beside the junior counsel who was admiring his nails, stood Jadassohn, standing erect and menacing. The light from the window behind him shone through his prominent ears, which glowed bloodily, and his expression postulated such selfless submission on Diederich's part that the latter began to look around for a way of escape. On the right of the accused and below him he saw Wolfgang Buck sitting carelessly, his fists resting on his plump thighs, from which his gown had fallen. He looked as smart and as cheerful as if