“The parish, your honor. The ground upon which the huts stand belongs to the parish.”
“Listen, and obey my orders!” said the governor. “These huts must be taken down without delay; for the emperor has not given this ground to peasants, that they may propagate like vermin. If the rabble cannot rent houses in the village, then they must go further, perhaps to Siberia, where there is plenty of work in the mines.”
The mayor of the village bowed most obsequiously.
Beck watched his friend Adolph, who seemed greatly revolted at the inhuman command.
Herr Schulze, of Berlin, on the contrary, looked as though he had heard something that would prove of incalculable benefit to mankind.
“On what text did the Catholic pastor preach last Sunday?” asked the governor.
“With the permission of your honor, his sermon was on redemption through Jesus Christ.”
“Did he make no mention of the emperor?”
“No, your honor.”
“Did he say nothing about the obedience due the emperor?”