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210 interrupting Diederich. His vulture-like features were unmoved, he did not bat an eyelid, as he watched Diederich's grim face in which the eyes flashed threateningly. Even old Kühlemann listened with gaping mouth. Wolfgang Buck leant forward in his chair and gazed up at Diederich, with the excited interest of an expert, his glance betraying a fearful joy. That was a mob oration! A sure hit! A winner! "Let our citizens," cried Diederich, "awake from the sleep in which they have so long been lulled, and not abandon to the State and its instruments the task of fighting the revolutionary elements, but do their own part! That is His Majesty's command, gentlemen, can I hesitate? Revolution is raising its head; a gang of people unworthy of the name of Germans dares to drag in the dust the sacred person of the King. &hellip;"

Somebody laughed among the poorer members of the audience. Sprezius snapped his beak and threatened to fine the person who laughed. Jadassohn sighed. Now it was frankly no longer possible to interrupt the witness.

In Netzig, unfortunately, the imperial call to battle had awakened only a feeble response! Here people were closing their eyes and ears to the danger and clinging to the common-place views of democracy and humanity which made the way easy for the unpatriotic enemies of the divine order of the world. Here they did not yet understand virile national sentiment and far-seeing imperialism. "The task of modern think ers is to win even Netzig to the new spirit, as defined by our glorious young Emperor, who has appointed every true patriot whether noble or commoner, to be the instrument of his exalted purpose." And Diederich concluded: "Therefore, gentlemen, I was justified in challenging the defendant with the greatest decision, when he began to criticise. I have acted without personal malice, for the sake of the cause. To be impartial is to be German! I for my part"—he glared across at Lauer—"admit my actions, for they spring from an exemplary life,