CHAPTER XXX

echildrenfledwithoneaccord.Immediatelyafterwardsanofficial,apparentlyofahighergradethanthemanwithin,cameup.Heglancedcuriouslyatthetwosuppliantsashethrusthishandintohispocketandpulledoutakey.Beforehecouldfititinthelockthemanontheothersidehadseenhim,hadsprungtothedoor,flungitopen,andstoodatattention. Manskesawthatherewashisopportunity.Hesnatchedoffhishat."Sir,"hecried,"onemoment,forGod'ssake." "Well?"inquiredtheofficialsharply. "WherecanIobtainanorderofadmission?" "Tosee——?" "Mydearpatron,HerrvonLohm,whobysomeincomprehensibleandappallingmistake——" "Youmustgotothejudgewhoconductedthepreliminaryinquiries." "Butwhoishe,andwhereishetobefound?" Theofficiallookedathiswatch."IfyouhurryyoumaystillfindhimattheLawCourts.Inthenextstreet.ExaminingJudgeSchultz." Andthedoorwasshut. SotheywenttotheLawCourts,andhurriedupanddownstaircasesandalongendlesscorridors,vainlylookingforsomeonetodirectthemtoExaminingJudgeSchultz.Thebuildingwasemptytheydidnotmeetasoul,andtheywentdownonepassageaftertheother,anguishinAnna'sheart,andmiseryhardlylessacuteinManske's.Atlasttheyhearddistantvoicesechoingthroughtheemptiness.Theyfollowedthesound,andfoundtwowomencleaning. "CanyoudirectmetotheroomoftheExaminingJudgeSchultz?"askedManske,bowingpolitely. "Thegentlemenhaveallgonehome.Businesshoursareover,"wastheanswer.Couldtheyperhapsgivehisprivateaddress?No,theycouldnotperhapstheporterknew.Wherewastheporter?Somewhereabout. Theyhurrieddownstairsagaininsearchoftheporter.Anothertenminuteswaswastedlookingforhim.Theysawhimatlastthroughtheglassoftheentrancedoor,airinghimselfonthesteps. Theportergavethemtheaddress,andtheylostsomemoreminutestryingtofindtheirDroschke,fortheyhadcomeoutatadifferententrancetotheonetheyhadgoneinby.BythistimeManskewasspeechless,andAnnawashalfdead. TheyclimbedthreeflightsofstairstotheExaminingJudge'sflat,andafterbeingkeptwaitingalongwhile—"DerHerrUntersuchungsrichteristbeiTisch,"theslovenlygirlhadannounced—weretoldbyhimverycurtlythattheymustgotothePublicProsecutorfortheorder.Annawentoutwithoutaword.ManskebowedandapologisedprofuselyforhavingdisturbedtheHerrUntersuchungsrichterathisrepasthefeltthenecessityofgrovellingbeforethesepersonswhosepowerwassoalmighty.TheExaminingJudgemadenoreplywhatevertothesepiteousamiabilities,butturnedonhisheel,leavingthemtofindthedoorasbesttheycould. ThePublicProsecutorlivedattheotherendofthetown.Theyneitherofthemspokeawordonthewaythere.Inanswertotheiranxiousinquirywhethertheycouldspeaktohim,thewomanwhoopenedthedoorsaidthathermasterwasasleepitwashishourforrepose,havingjustsupped,andhecouldnotpossiblybedisturbed. Annabegantocry.Manskegrippedholdofherhandandhelditfast,pattingitwhilehecontinuedtoquestiontheservant."Hewillseenoonesolate,"shesaid."Hewillsleepnowtillnine,andthengoout.Youmustcometo-morrow." "Atwhattime?" "AttenhegoestotheLawCourts.Youmustcomebeforethen." "Thankyou,"saidManske,anddrewAnnaaway."Donotcry,liebesKind,"heimplored,hisowneyesbrimmingwithmiserabletears."Donotletthecoachmanseeyoulikethis.Wemustgohomenow.Thereisnothingtobedone.Wewillcomeearlyto-morrow,andhavemoresuccess." Theystoppedamomentinthedarkentrancebelow,tryingtocomposetheirfacesbeforegoingout.Theydidnotdarelookateachother.Thentheywentoutanddroveaway. Thestarswereshiningastheypassedalongthequietcountryroad,andallthewaywasdrenchedwiththefragranceofcloverandfreshly-cuthay.Theskyabovetheryefieldsontheleftwasstillrosy.Notaleafstirred.Once,whenthecoachmanstoppedtotakeastoneoutofahorse'sshoe,theycouldhearthecrickets,andthecheerfulhummingofacolumnofgnatshighabovetheirheads.