Page:H.M. The Patrioteer.djvu/136

128 laws in the street when somebody had been shot with the connivance of the authorities. He turned to the girl and offered her employment in his workshop. Meanwhile an ambulance had come up and the dead man was raised from the ground. When they were placing him in the car the girl started out of her stupor, threw herself upon the stretcher, tore it from the grasp of the bearers before they could prevent her, and it fell on the pavement. Clasping the dead man convulsively, and with wild screams she rolled on the ground. With great difficulty she was separated from the corpse and placed in a cab. The assistant surgeon, who had accompanied the ambulance, drove off with her.

Jadassohn advanced threateningly towards Lauer, who was moving off with Heuteufel and the other members of the Masonic Lodge. "One moment, please. You stated just now that with the connivance of the authorities—I call these gentlemen to witness that that was your expression—with the connivance of the authorities somebody had been shot here. I call upon you to answer whether this was intended as a criticism of the authorities."

"Do you really, now," replied Lauer, looking at him. "I suppose you would like to have me jailed, too?"

"At the same time," continued Jadassohn, in loud cutting tones, "I draw your attention to the fact that the conduct of a sentry, firing upon a person who molests him, was defined in authoritative quarters as praiseworthy and justifiable, a few months ago in the Luck affair. It was rewarded by marks of official distinction and approval. Beware how you criticise the actions of the supreme authorities."

"I have not done so," said Lauer. "I have merely expressed my disapproval of the gentleman there with the dangerous moustache."

"What?" asked Diederich, who was still staring at the pavement where the man had fallen, which was stained with