CASE OF THE CRIMINAL-COLLEGIUM ITSELF.

And thus was the error of the Criminal-Collegium rectified IN RE
Schlubhut. For it is not in name only, but in fact, that this
Sovereign is Supreme Judge, and bears the sword in God's stead,--
interfering now and then, when need is, in this terrible manner.
In the same dim authentic Benekendorf (himself a member of the
Criminal-Collegium in later times), and from him in all the Books,
is recorded another interference somewhat in the comic vein;
which also we may give. Undisputed fact, again totally without
precision or details; not even datable, except that, on study, we
perceive it may have been before this Schlubhut's execution, and
after the Criminal-Collegium had committed their error about him,
--must have been while this of Schlubhut was still vividly in
mind; Here is the unprecise but indubitable fact, as the Prussian
Dryasdust has left us his smear of it:--

"One morning early" (might be before Schlubhut was hanged, and
while only sentence of imprisonment and restitution lay on him),
General Graf von Donhof, Colonel of a Musketeer Regiment, favorite
old soldier,--who did vote on the mild side in that Court-Martial
on the Crown-Prince lately; but I hope has been forgiven by his
Majesty, being much esteemed by him these long years past;--this
Donhof, early one morning, calls upon the King, with a grimly
lamenting air. "What is wrong, Herr General?"--"Your Majesty, my
best musketeer, an excellent soldier, and of good inches, fell
into a mistake lately,--bad company getting round the poor fellow;
they, he among them, slipt into a house and stole something;