t Carovius to
thinking.

Some gas pipes had to be installed in the apartment about that time, and
this gave him, as superintendent, a splendid opportunity to go up and
see Benda. The doctor was just then making his final attempt to claim
his rights--the rights of a man and a scholar--against the conspiracy of
enemies who were really immune before the law.

He was all alone when Carovius called. He took him straight to his
study. The walls of his hall as well as those of his room were covered
with books from floor to ceiling. Benda said he was just getting ready
to go on an extended journey. The finished politeness with which he
removed the books from a chair and the tense way in which he eyed Herr
Carovius made it clear to the latter that this was neither the time nor
the place to engage in mock conversation. Carovius talked gas pipes.
Benda finished all he had to say on this subject in two short, crisp
sentences and got up to go.

Herr Carovius got up too, removed his nose glasses, and rubbed them with
his bright blue handkerchief. "Where are you going, if I may ask?" There
was an expression of apparent sympathy in his question.

Benda made it a habit never to treat any man impolitely, however little
regard he might have for him personally. He said that he was going to
Kiel to deliver his trial lecture at the university.

"Bravo!" cried Carovius, falling at once into the tone of awkward
familiarity. "You have simply got to show those fellows that you are not
a coward. Bravo!"

"I don't quite understand you," said Benda in amazement. His antipathy
for the man was growing. And no one recognised this better than Carovius
himself.

He cast a sideglance that reeked with hypocrisy at the young scholar.
"My dear doctor, you must not look upon me as a poor uncultured yokel,"
he said, "_anch' io sono pittore_. I have read, among other things, your
monograph on the morphogenetic achievements of the original sulcate
cell. Listen, man! I take off my hat to that book. Of course, it is not
exactly original, but then it is one of your earlier works. The idea
developed in it follows pretty closely that of the evolutionary and
mechanical theories of the much slandered Wilhelm Roux. And yet I am
bound to say you display considerable independence in your method.
Indeed you do. And more than that, you throw much needed light on the
mysteries of God himself. There is a good deal of incoherent drivel
these days about the freedom of