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278 to his place for the hunting. Then he will undersell you here in Netzig itself."

Diederich straightened himself up. "Sir, I am determined, I am determined, despite all hostile attacks, to hold aloft the national banner in Netzig." Then, in softer tones :"In any case we can get rid of one enemy, indeed a particularly bad one, old Kliising in Gausenfeld."

"That fellow?" Wulckow smiled contemptuously. "He eats out of my hand. He supplies paper to the official newspapers of the district." "Do you know whether he does not supply even more to the bad papers? On that score, with all due respect, I am probably better informed."

"The 'Netziger Journal' has become more reliable from the national standpoint."

"That is true"—Diederich nodded impressively—"since the day when old Klüsing allowed me to tender for part of the paper supply. Gausenfeld was supposed to be too full of orders. Of course, he was really afraid that I would become interested in a rival sheet on the national side. And perhaps he was also afraid"—a significant pause—"that the Governor might prefer to order the paper for the official press from a patriotic firm."

"So you now supply the 'Netziger Journal'?"

"Never will I so betray my patriotic convictions as to supply a paper so long as there is Liberal money behind it."

"Hm. Very good." Wulckow rested his hands on his thighs. "You needn't say anything more. You want the whole contract for the 'Netziger Journal.' You also want the official organs of the district. Probably also the supplies of paper for government use. Anything else?".

To which Diederich replied in practical tones:

"I, sir, am not like Klüsing. I have no truck with revolution. If you, sir, as President of the Bible Society, will give me your support, I may say that it can only be to the advantage of the national cause."