"Go back then to her!"
Jean almost shouted, "Yes." The servants stopped to listen, in passing round the sweets. He went on:
"I find your attempt bad in itself, because it is a repression of consciences; but I also find that it is clumsy, even from a German point of view."
"Charming," said the little falsetto of Madame Knäpple. "You should have the interest to keep what originality and independence remains to us. It would be a useful example to Germany."
"Thanks," said a voice.
"And more and more useful," insisted the young man. "I was educated in Germany and I am sure of my contention. What struck me most, and shocked me, is the want of personality in Germans, their increasing forgetfulness of liberty, their effacement before the power of——"
"Take care, young man!" interrupted the Geheimrath quickly.
"I shall say before the power of Prussia, Geheimrath, which devours consciences, and which allows only three types of men to live, and these she has moulded from childhood—taxpayers, officials, and soldiers."
From the end of the table one of the students rose from his chair:
"The Roman Empire did the same, and it was the Roman Empire!"