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Rh brought up to honour old Buck. The great man of Netzig! Sentenced to death in Forty Eight!"

"But that was an historic service, your father always used to say."

"Service," shouted Diederich. "When I know that any one is against the government that is quite enough for me. Why should high treason be a service?"

Before the astonished women he launched into politics. These old Democrats who still led the regiment, they were a positive disgrace to Netzig! Unpatriotic slackers, at odds with the government! They were a mockery of the spirit of the time. Because old Judge Kühlemann was their representative in the Reichstag, and was a friend of the notorious Eugene Richter, business here was at a standstill and nobody got any money. Of course, there would be no railway connections or soldiers for such a radical hole. No traffic and no influx of population! The legal appointments were always in the hands of the same couple of families, that was well-known, and they passed round the jobs among themselves and there was nothing for any one else. The Gausenfeld paper factory furnished all the supplies for the town, for Klüsing, the owner, also be longed to old Buck's gang.

Magda had something else to add. "Recently the amateurs' show at the Civic Club had been put off because Herr Buck's daughter, Frau Lauer, was ill. That is simply absolutism." "Nepotism, you mean," said Diederich sharply. He rolled his eyes. "And into the bargain, Herr Lauer is a socialist. But Herr Buck had better look out! We shall keep a sharp eye on him."

Frau Hessling raised her hands entreatingly. "My dear son, when you go now to pay your calls in the town, promise me you will also go to Herr Buck's. After all he is so influential." But Diederich promised nothing. "Other people want their turn," he cried.