trifle and without violence: pay is but three halfpence, your
Majesty, and the Devil tempts men! Well, the Criminal-Collegium
have condemned him to be hanged; an excellent soldier and of good
inches, for that one fault. Nobleman Schlubhut was 'to make
restitution,' they decreed: that was their decree on Schlubhut,
one of their own set; and this poor soldier, six feet three, your
Majesty, is to dance on the top of nothing for a three-halfpenny
matter!"--So would Donhof represent the thing,--"fact being," says
my Dryasdust, "it was a case of house-breaking with theft to the
value of 6,000 thalers and this musketeer the ringleader!"--Well;
but was Schlubhut sentenced to hanging? Do you keep two weights
and two measures, in that Criminal-Collegium of yours, then?

Friedrich Wilhelm feels this sad contrast very much; the more, as
the soldier is his own chattel withal, and of superlative inches:
Friedrich Wilhelm flames up into wrath; sends off swift messengers
to bring these Judges, one and all instantly into his presence.
The Judges are still in their dressing-gowns, shaving,
breakfasting; they make what haste they can. So soon as the first
three or four are reported to be in the anteroom, Friedrich
Wilhelm, in extreme impatience has them called in;
starts discoursing with them upon the two weights and two
measures. Apologies, subterfuges do but provoke him farther; it is
not long till he starts up, growling terribly: "IHR SCHURKEN (Ye
Scoundrels), how could you?" and smites down upon the crowns of
them with the Royal Cudgel itself. Fancy the hurry-scurry, the
unforensic attitudes and pleadings! Royal Cudgel rains blows,
right and left: blood is drawn, crowns cracked, crowns nearly
broken; and "several Judges lost a few teeth, and had their noses
battered," before they could get out. The second relay meeting