Page:H.M. The Patrioteer.djvu/196

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"You won't have to wait so long for that," cried Diederich. "And then you will see how all loyal patriots will rally faithfully and steadfastly to their Emperor!"

"No doubt." Buck was shrugging his shoulders more frequently. "That is the traditional sequence, as he himself has prescribed it. You people allow him to prescribe phrases for you, and never was opinion so well drilled as now. But deeds? My excellent contemporary, our age is not prepared for deeds. In order to exercise one's capacity for adventure it is necessary, first of all, to live, and deeds are dangerous to life."

Diederich drew himself up. "Are you trying to associate the accusation of cowardice with—?"

"I have expressed no moral judgment. I have mentioned a fact of the inner history of these times which concerns us all. For the rest, we are not responsible. All action is settled for the mummer on the stage, for it is he who has carried out his part. What more can reality demand of him? I suppose you do not know whom history will designate as the representative type of this era?"

"The Emperor," said Diederich.

"No," Buck replied. "The actor."

At this Diederich burst into such a roar of laughter that the engaged couple in front started away from each other and turned around. But they had reached the Theaterplatz, an icy wind was blowing across it, and they went on.

"Why, of course," Diederich ejaculated, "I might have guessed how you came by such notions. You are connected with the theatre." He slapped Buck on the shoulder. "Have you finally gone on the stage yourself?"

Buck's eyes were troubled. He shook off the hand that slapped him with a movement which Diederich found unfriendly. "I? Not at all," said Buck, and after they had reached Gerichtstrasse in uneasy silence: "So you don't know why I am in Netzig?"

"Presumably because of your fiancée."