Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/69

 1915, and the poetaster has only just been arrested, that is, seven months later" I objected.

"That makes no difference. Nothing gets out of date here. Do you make any changes in your printed verses when you prepare them for volume form?"

"Very often. Rhyme, phrases, whole stanzas."

"What are your criteria in making such changes?"

"Artistic ones."

"You have not changed anything ad hoc in the poems concerned, in order, for example to bring out their chief features more prominently?"

"No."

"Has your publisher any influence on the contents of the book? Does he read it before he sends it to press?"

"No, he does not. He sends it to press just as he receives it from me. I alone take responsibility for everything.

He dictated the continuation of the report. The machine clattered, the paper rustled.

—Tomorrow I may be out of it—was the thought that occurred to me. For everything was so clear and obvious. An error, a judicial error. If they are human, I shall be among my books tomorrow.

"Did you extract only these four poems from the books of feuilletons referred to, or others as well?" continued Dr. Frank, and studied his pink finger-nails.

"Quite a number. In fact all the verse writings which they contain."

"Could you mark them for me in the contents?"

I marked them and noticed that they formed a good third of "Drops."