Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/39

 already. But this state of uncertainty by no means interfered with the straight course of my existence. I slept excellently, I ate, drank, smoked with appetite, and I followed the spectacle of events with interest as they were reported to me in the morning and evening by the papers. And every day I saw the sun rise and the sun set, and took a sincere pleasure in both.

One day,—it was in July about six weeks after Mr. Preminger's visit to me,—I proceeded home and, lo and behold, Mr. David Kolbe stood waiting in front of the house.

"For me?"

"For you. Permit me to come up."

I permitted. And suddenly, without any ado there was another gentleman whom Mr. Kolbe introduced to me as his colleague. Good, good. Mr. Kolbe took out a paper,—a warrant for arrest? Oh no, only that they had to carry out a domiciliary search.

What? Again? Why, I had the pleasure only few weeks ago.—

"Orders"—Mr. Kolbe shrugged his shoulders.

They searched. Mr. Kolbe ascertained that nothing had been moved from the time when he had assisted the officers here. The books, the bundles,—he himself had placed them thus, he himself had tied them up with string,—those were his knots.—

I expressed my regret; nothing had been added, letters received since then I had burnt. Nor had anything been removed, I had now no reason to hide anything.

Mr. Kolbe saw things. Everything was in its place as before. The dust lying upon them was proof that nothing had been changed.

We lit our cigars. Outside it had grown dark and a thunderstorm had come on.

"Where did you learn Czech?" I asked Mr. Kolbe.