Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/43

 "And you declare that you did not write these few lines about Hus?"

"I did not write them."

"We will draw up a report. But I have already told you my impression,—that is not your prose. By the way, have you written about Hus anywhere else?"

"I was asked to, but I refused. I am in favour of celebrating Hus at a more peaceful time."

"Which papers asked you for such a work?"

I mentioned them, he noted the titles. Then we drew up a report. To the effect that I emphatically denied the authorship of this trifle, that I was not in touch with Switzerland, that I was in favour of postponing the Hus celebration to peaceful times, that I was not in communication with America,—and all this I confirmed with my own signature.

We had finished. I was just in the doorway.

Did I know Dr. Herben,—he asked me just as I was going. Of course I did. And I turned back and sat down again. Dr. Herben,—a quiet, peaceful man. In the editorial office he busied himself with literary matters, wrote obituaries, moderate social controversies; recently, however he had been forced by weakness of sight to give up all further work entirely.

"That tallied", he said. And did I know Bezruč?

Of course I did, an excellent poet.

Political?

More social and personal lyrics. He has pleasant memories of his youth in Silesia.

And who is he supposed to be?

There are legends about it. Some say that he is a simple miner, others that he is an engineer in the foundries.