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History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 08 by Thomas Carlyle
page 25 of 84 (29%)
carries his head higher than could be looked for: Is very sorry;
knows not how it happened; meant always to refund; will refund, to
the last penny, and make all good.--"Refund? Does He (ER) know
what stealing means, then? How the commonest convicted private
thief finds the gallows his portion; much more a public Magistrate
convicted of theft? Is He aware that He, in a very especial
manner, deserves hanging, then?"--Schlubhut looks offended
dignity; conscious of rank, if also of quasi-theft: "ES IST NICHT
MANIER (it is not the polite thing) to hang a Prussian Nobleman on
those light terms!" answers Schlubhut, high mannered at the wrong
time: "I can and will pay the money back!"--NOBLE-man? Money back?
"I will none of His scoundrelly money." To strait Prison with this
SCHURKE!--And thither he goes accordingly: unhappiest of mortals;
to be conscious of rank, not at the right place, when about to
steal the money, but at the wrong, when answering to Rhadamanthus
on it!

And there, sure enough, Schlubhut lies, in his prison on the
SCHLOSSPLATZ, or Castle Square, of Konigsberg, all night;
and hears, close by the DOMANEN-KAMMER, which is in the same
Square, DOMANEN-KAMMER where his Office used to be, a terrible
sound of carpentering go on;--unhappiest of Prussian Noblemen.
And in the morning, see, a high gallows built; close in upon the
Domain-Kammer, looking into the very windows of it;--and there,
sure enough, the unfortunate Schlubhut dies the thief's death, few
hours hence, speaking or thinking what, no man reports to me.
Death was certain for him; inevitable as fate. And so he vibrates
there, admonitory to the other Raths for days,--some say for
weeks,--till by humble petition they got the gallows removed.
The stumps of it, sawed close by the stones, were long after
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