Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/165

 Dr. Frank informed me in his correct and precise manner that I had a visitor. On the floor lay bundles of papers, boxes, travelling bags—I pointed to them with my foot and said:

"Ah, Dr. Preiss?"

"Yes we have brought him from Prague," said Frank with a cold smile.

My visitors entered. Three officials from the Bodenkreditanstalt. They brought me flowers. I declined them and pointed out that I was only allowed to smell at them.

Dr. Frank corroborated this with a nod of the head.

All three,—Viennese,—broke out in dialect. When the Viennese speaks slowly, he speaks literary German; as soon as he lets his tongue go like an express train, he talks Viennese.

So, what was I doing there? There was so much work in the office, I was wanted everywhere, they said; they couldn't manage by themselves, everything there was in such confusion, nobody knew what to do—

Dr. Frank smiled. I mentioned solemnly that I had fifteen unoccupied hours daily, and that I could place them at their disposal.

They turned to Frank. How much longer would that last, and was there any sense at all in my imprisonment; they would wager their heads, they declared, that I had done nothing.

I stood up and drew their attention to the fact that we must not detain the worthy authority, that he too had a great deal of work, and that I could not place any of my free time at his disposal either.

Whereupon the defence-corps men led me back again.

During the afternoon exercise I now used to go with Zamazal. The trial of Dr. Kramář and associates had come up again, and they sent Zamazal to the small courtyard so that he could refresh