Page:H.M. The Patrioteer.djvu/202

194 Lauer said: "Certainly not, Judith." Just then Judge Fritzscfie passed, and there was silence. When he and old Back's daughters exchanged bows, people winked at each other, and the Mayor's mother-in-law muttered something half aloud, which could be more easily read in her eyes.

Diederich had been discovered in his sheltered post by Wolfgang Buck, who dragged him forward and led him up to his sister. "My dear Judith, I wonder if you know our honourable enemy, Dr. Hessling? To-day he will destroy us." But Frau Lauer neither laughed nor returned Diederich's bow. She simply stared at him with ruthless curiosity. It was hard to meet those sombre eyes, and still harder because she was so beautiful. Diederich felt the blood rushing to his face, his glance wandered and he stammered. "Your brother likes his joke. As a matter of fact, there must be some mistake. &hellip;" The eyebrows met in that pale face, the corners of the mouth drooped expressively, and Judith Lauer turned her back on Diederich.

A court-crier came along and Wolfgang Buck went into the courtroom beside his brother-in-law, Lauer. As the door did not open easily, the whole crowd pushed through in haste, and the better class people got the best of the nobodies. The petticoats of the five sisters Buck rustled mightily in the struggle. Diederich was the last to get in, and had to sit down on the bench provided for witnesses beside Major Kunze, who at once moved away a bit. The president of the court, Herr Sprezius, who looked like a worm-eaten vulture, from his lofty eminence declared the session open, called upon the witnesses to stand up and warned them of the sacredness of their oath—whereat Diederich at once assumed the expression he used to wear in Sunday-school. Judge Harnisch was putting papers in order and looked in the audience for his daughter. More attention was paid to old Judge Kiihlemann, who had left his sick room to take his place on the bench to the left of the president. People thought he did not look well. The Mayor's