The Jail. Experiences in 1916. Josef Svatopluk Machar

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СКАЧАТЬ Leger."

"Why Leger? Why not Ležé?"^[1]

      "His name is Leger and he lives at Kolín. A poet."

      Preminger looked suspiciously at the letters.

      "At Kolín? Not at Paris?"

      "Ah, you mean Louis Leger? No, I have nothing from him."

      He laid aside our Leger disappointedly. "And you have no letters at all from abroad?"

      "Yes. Here is a letter from Denis."

      "Oh, that's something", and he took the letter out of my hand.

      "It’s no good to you. The letter is already several years old. Denis thanks me in it for the dedication of my book The Apostles."

      "We shall see", and Denis' letter joined those of Kramář. "Nothing else from abroad?"

      "Nothing else."

      "Now for home affairs."

      I opened drawers, undid bundles,—hundreds and hundreds of letters tumbled out, congratulations, literary matters, bills, telegrams, personal communications, cuttings from papers, rough drafts of poems—all in Czech, and these piles were shared out among the three officers, of whom only the Captain understood Czech. They looked at the signatures and dates, and asked questions.

      The volunteer officer with the foxy eyes was standing in the next room and waiting for his turn to come. In the ante-room the man from the street was keeping watch.

      I lit a cigar and offered them some. The Captain declined with ​thanks, saying that he only smoked cigarettes. Without a word, Preminger lit his own cigar, the third officer, an otherwise taciturn gentleman, remarked sharply that he smoked only "his own cigars" and also lit up. The smoke floated out through the open window to where the blue sky was spread out above the peaceful earth, and white swelling clouds were borne across it from north to east. There was a rustle of papers: letter after letter was translated, and as I saw that the pile was diminishing, I added fresh supplies to it.

      "Tell the agent to come in", said Dr. Preminger to the volunteer officer, "we shan't be finished in two days."

      Mr. Kolbe understood Czech. They gave him this and that to read through and express his opinion. Mr. Kolbe read it through and expressed his opinion.

The taciturn person had found a sheet of paper and gave it to Mr. Kolbe to read through and translate. There is a proverb which I once noted down: "To cut up chopped straw and prove that it is oats should not be tried even on a donkey."—Mr. Kolbe translated, the taciturn person asked Preminger whether he should take it with him. Preminger waved him aside. "But that certainly has some bearing upon the Czech nation", insisted the taciturn person. "Eh, Unsinn",^[2] said the Captain interfering.

      Dr. Preminger suddenly thrust his pile away and stretched himself in his chair. What a fearful lot of letters you have. A paper deluge."

      "Tell me, why did you really arrest Dr. Kramář? That is more than an error, it is folly, if I may quote—"

      "You think so?" said Preminger smiling.

      "The most black-yellow politician in Austria", I went on eagerly, "for fifteen years he has had a thoroughly hellish time amongst us for that very reason."

      ​"Well, you will see what his Austrianism amounts to. You were with him in the Crimea,—were you in touch there with Russian personalities?"

      "With persons certainly, with personalities never."

      "Of course, you were there seventeen years ago. You like the Russians?"

      "Russian literature above all, the Russian peasant extremely, Tsarism less."

      "You see we know all about you", declared Preminger triumphantly. "And the English?"

      "Sir, if I were an Englishman, I should not have the pleasure of your visit in my house."

      Preminger laughed.

      "Look, that's the one", and the taciturn person pointed out to him some signature in a letter. Preminger nodded.

      "Ležé again?" said I pointedly.

      "What is the Volná Myšlenka?" asked Preminger instead of replying. "A society?"

      "No, an association."

      "Well, that is a society."

      "An association. A society and an association are two different things."

      "You were honorary President of this society, weren't you?"

      "Yes, I was honorary President of this association."

      "Which wages war against all religions?"

      "Which waged war against clericalism. Waged it,—for immediately at the beginning of the war its activities both as regards issuing periodicals and publishing books were stopped."

      "Have you any papers, documents from which it would be possible to learn what were the real aims of the association?"

      ​"I will lend you a few volumes of the paper it issued, but you will return them to me."

      "Certainly, and with thanks."

      I found two volumes for him.

      "Mr. Kolbe, look, here is a poem Franz II; tell me what it's about", remarked the taciturn person turning to the agent.

      It was a poem which had once been published in the paper called "Neruda".

      "There is nothing in it. Very nice patriotic verses. About how the soldiers fight for the Emperor?" remarked Mr. Kolbe.

      The taciturn person scratched his head; "Why should Mr. M. write patriotic verses? and about Franz II?"

      "Lieutenant", I said shaking my finger at him, "I must point out that by your last question—"

      The taciturn person reddened angrily.

      "The Lord knows that my back is already aching", said the Captain coming to his assistance.

      It had grown dark. The chauffeur came up to say that there was no lamp on the car and that they must go. I pulled out a number of new bundles.

      "That's enough, gentlemen", announced Dr. Preminger, "we will go. What do you want to take?" he said turning to the taciturn person.

      "This", he pointed to it, "and this and this." There were about eight bundles.

      "There will be no room in the car, there are four of us" explained Preminger.

      "Are you taking me with you?" I asked,—I had completely forgotten the volunteer officer in the next room.

      ​"Oh, no, no, no", said Preminger deprecatingly. "But where are we to put this litter?"

      "I will lend you a trunk if you will let me have it back", I offered.

      "There СКАЧАТЬ