Page:The Jail, Experiences in 1916.pdf/82

 He led us through passages on the left in which were doors into other rooms, on the right were barred windows of ground-glass. These looked out on to the street, to freedom.

At last we reacedreached [sic] the doctor. Dr. Prince Arpad, assistant physician and medical superintendent of the jail. A well-nourished gentleman, a Jew. One of his Polish co-religionists, a member of our number 60, knew him from Karlsbad. They were deep in a very lengthy conversation. We others waited.

At last it was my turn.

"Are you ill?"

"No."

"What are you here for?"

"Verses."

"What? Verses againt Austria? I'd have sent you to the trenches. Why do you write such things?"

"Sir, am I before a doctor or a magistrate?" I snarled.

"Ah, you answer back, do you? Of course—a Czech. Get away."

The medical inspection was over.

Mr. Sponner looked at me in astonishment.

We again went through passages, mounted staircases and stopped in a passage in front of the office.

From a room, the door of which bore a tablet inscribed : "Rechnungsunteroffizier I. Klasse Alfred Papritz", a sergeant-major majestically strode forth. His cloak unbuttoned, in the manner favoured by Generals, an officer's long sword, an upturned moustache, a capital I in his glance,—he stood before us and looked at us for a moment witheringly. Somebody in the rear rank whispered. The sergeant-major flashed lightning in that direction and thunderingly bellowed for silence.

"What have you been doing?" he asked me.