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Rh he said: "I trust I can rely as implicitly upon the patriotic sentiments of the other gentlemen as upon my own, as to which I most emphatically repudiate any doubts."

Jadassohn had recovered his offensive tone. "If that implies any insinuation regarding myself, I deny it with all the scorn it deserves." His voice rose to a scream, which brought Klappsch to the door: "Remember who I am, Dr. Hessling, one of His Majesty's judges. I am at your disposal whenever you want me."

Diederich could only murmur that he had not intended anything of that kind. But he called for the bill, and they parted on almost unfriendly terms.

On his way home Diederich was perturbed. Should he not have been more frank with Jadassohn, in case Rothgroschen should tell? Still, he was indispensable to Jadassohn in the Lauer case. At all events, it was a good thing that Diederich now knew exactly the sort of person this gentleman was. "Real patriotic feeling is incompatible with ears like his. I always suspected them."

As soon as he reached the house he seized the Berlin "Lokal-Anzeiger." There he found the anecdotes about the Emperor which would appear to-morrow in the "Netzig Journal." Perhaps they would not appear until the day after to-morrow, for there was not room for everything. He continued his search with trembling hands. Here it was! He was obliged to sit down. "Is there anything wrong with you, my boy?" asked Frau Hessling. Diederich was staring at the printed words which were like a fairy tale come true. There it stood, amongst other indubitable facts, in the one paper which was read by the Emperor himself! Deep within the depths of his soul he murmured, so that he himself could hardly hear it: "My telegram." He could hardly contain himself with sheer joy. Was it possible? Had he really anticipated what the Emperor would say? Was his ear so acute? Did his brain work in unison with&hellip;? He was overpowered by a sense