er stand
in need of faithful and determined men, then think of us."

A week later, to the very day, early in the morning a police officer
brought Wilhelm an official document summoning him to appear that
afternoon before the head police authorities in the Stadtvogtei. He
presented himself at the appointed hour in the office, and handed the
document to an official, who, after glancing at it, asked:

"You are Dr. Wilhelm Eynhardt?

"Yes."

He took up a paper lying ready at hand, and said dryly: "I have to
inform you that, in accordance with the Socialist Act, you are ordered
out of Berlin and its purlieus, and must be out of the city by
to-morrow at midnight at the latest."

"Ordered out of Berlin!" cried Wilhelm, utterly taken, aback. "And may
I ask what I have done?"

"You must know that better than I," answered the official sternly.
"However, I have no further information to give you, and can only
advise you to address yourself to the Committee of Police, in case you
require a day or two more to regulate your affairs."

At the same time he handed him the paper, which proved to be the
written order of banishment, and dismissed him with a slight bend of
the head.

Wilhelm went without a word. Naturally he turned his steps almost
unconsciously to Schrotter, to whom he held out the police paper in
silence. Schrotter read it, and struck his hands together.

"Is it possible?" he murmured. "Is it possible?" He paced the room with
long strides, then suddenly stood still before his friend, and laying
his hands on Wilhelm's shoulder, he said in tones of profound emotion:
"I never thought I should live to see such things in my own country. I
am nearly sixty, and it is late in the day for me to begin a new life.
But really I find it difficult to breathe this air any longer. Where
shall you go?"

"I do not know yet myself. I must collect my thoughts a little first."

"Whatever you decide upon, I have a very good mind to go with you.
There is nothing left for me to do in my old age but emigrate again."

"You will not do that!" answered Wilhelm hurriedly. "Men like you are
more badly needed here than ever. You must stay. I implore you to do
so. Remember how you reproached yourself for twenty years, because you
were not there when the people were struggling against the Manteuffel
reaction. And then--your patients, your poor, the hundreds who have
need of you."

Schrotter did not answer, and seated himself on the divan