Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/67

 He smiled, disclosing two rows of clean teeth stopped with gold, and dictated the report to the youth at the writing table. That I did not enter an appeal. The machine clattered, the yellowish official paper kept emerging from its teeth, covered with symmetrical rows of writing.

Then from a drawer he drew out a book. Heavens, my own book, my verses entitled "Drops".

Did I guess why I had been arrested?

No.

For four poems from this book.

I saw marked with blue pencil:

"In memory of November 5th 1908."

"Hospital Humanitarianism."

"To Dr. Frant. Mesany."

"Twenty Years."

My listless weariness fell from me at a blow. What, really for this? And in all my literary activity you found nothing else besides these four trifles? Tell me, is it possible?

Yes, for these four poems.

Joy, inexpressible joy, set me astir. I will fight for my liberty. How could this be a menace to Austrian power and order? I was prepared for all kinds of things, but that I should be imprisoned and cross-examined on account of such trifling verses, no, that I had not expected.

Like lightning there flashed through my mind the memory of Count Jáchym Ondřej Šlik. Slavata in his "Memoirs" quotes as if in mockery the letter written by him on March 2nd 1621 to Prince Liechtenstein. He said that he was not the instigator of that unfortunate deed which flung the Emperor's representatives from the window, that he had only heard of it about an hour and a half