rotestants! These things, especially
this latter unheard-of Schlubhut thing, the Supreme Court at Berlin
(CRIMINAL-COLLEGIUM) have been sitting on, for some time; and, in regard
to Schlubhut, they have brought out a result, which Friedrich Wilhelm
not a little admires at. Schlubhut clearly guilty of the defamation, say
they; but he has moneys, landed properties: let him refund, principal
and interest; and have, say, three or four years' imprisonment, by
way of memento. "Years' imprisonment? Refund? Is theft in the highest
quarters a thing to be let off for refunding?" growls his Majesty; and
will not confirm this sentence of his Criminal-Collegium; but leaves it
till he get to the spot, and see with his own eyes. Schlubhut, in arrest
or mild confinement all this while, ought to be bethinking himself more
than he is!

Once on the spot, judge if the Konigsberg Domain-Kammer had not a stiff
muster to pass; especially if Schlubhut's drill-exercise was gentle!
Schlubhut, summoned to private interview with his Majesty, 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 u