Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/52

 ed up in all my cross-examinations, and in the evidence I gave at this trial; perhaps for economic reasons so as to have certain supplies prepared for all eventualities.

Thereupon we took our leave of the court very coldly,—-they did not even thank me for my evidence.

A few weeks ago, long after this affair and after the affair which I shall yet describe in this book, at a time when the Imperial Amnesty severed all my connections with the military courts, I went to Dr. Preminger to demand back the trunk which I had lent him when he searched my house in June 1915.

"Do you know that on December 7th, when you were giving evidence before the court and made a remark about the Austrian orders, all the officers were in favour of your immediate arrest?" Preminger informed me.

"I do not know. And who prevented it?"

"I did."

"You? Only so that you could lock me up afterwards?"

"I did not lock you up. As long as your case was in my hands, you remained at liberty. Altogether I take very careful counsel before arresting anyone. It was the same in the case of Dr. Kramář. A domiciliary search—I am in favour of that immediately. But to arrest a man,—no, then I reflect for a long time. I repeat, that as long as you were in my hands, you were free. When it was taken over by somebody else—"

"Doctor, for heaven's sake don't let it get known in Bohemia that you have any opinion of me or I shall be badly off."

"How is that?"