ing his hands together twirled his
thumbs.

"I think you did not understand the question, my son," said the director
in a harsh dry voice. "It is not that I wished to know for how much you
wrote that trash: but with what object."

"I understood well, and answered accordingly. They gave me writings to
copy, they paid me for them: I accepted the payment because it was
honorable earnings."

"You did not know they were secret writings?"

"I could not know it was forbidden to write what it was permitted to say
for the hearing of the whole public, in the presence of the
representative of the King and the Prince Palatine."

At this answer of mine one of the younger professors uttered a sound
that greatly resembled a choked laugh. The director looked sternly at
him, rebuked with his eyes the sympathetic demonstration, and then
bawled angrily at me:--

"Don't play the fool!"

The only result of this was that I gazed still more closely at him, and
was already resolved not to move aside, even if he drove a coach and
four at me. I had trembled before him when he had rebuked me for my
violin-playing; but now, when real danger threatened me, I did not wince
at his gaze.

"Answer me, who gave into your hands that writing, which you copied?"

I clenched my teeth. I would not answer. He might cut me in two without
finding within me what he sought.

"Well, won't you answer my question?"

Indeed, what would have been easier than to relate how some gentleman,
whom I did not know, came to me; he had a beard that reached to his
knees, wore spectacles, and a green overcoat: they must then try to find
the man, if they could:--but then--I could not any longer have gazed
into the questioning eyes.

No! I would not lie: nor would I play the traitor.

"Will you answer?" the director cried at me for the third time.

"I cannot answer."

"Ho ho, that is a fine statement. Perhaps you don't know the man?"

"I know, but will not betray him."

I thought that, at this answer of mine, the director would surely take
up his inkstand and hurl it at my head.

But he did not: he took a pinch of snuff from his snuff-box, and looked
askance at his neighbor, Schmuck, as much as to say, "It is what I
expected from him."

Thereupon Mr. Schmuck ceased to twirl his thumbs and turning to me with
a tender face he addressed me with soothing tones:--

"My dear Desider, don't be alarmed without cause: don't imagine that
some severe punishment awa