“Dear Sir,
Please compare the file which was taken from me with the enclosure B3, volume M23, with the dictation of the Minister in the same place, and also with the copy of the letter from the 17.9. in the same place, to make sure that the wrong decision which was taken was not my fault, but that I received incorrect material from that document. You can see yourself, although you are so young, that the Minister wrongly—”
And here the letter was crossed in evident anger and crushed. The next paper had apparently to carry the beginning of some essay; there was only: “If you want to become a philosopher you must—”
Even this paper was crushed and torn, perhaps after his long sleeplessness. Vojtech put all the poor papers together carefully, and with a quivering, pitying pain, looked at his sleeping brother. You see, he is already grey about the temples; his eyes are swollen, and he seems to be ill. Vojtech gazed at him thoughtfully; then he silently finished his dressing, locked the door behind him, and ran to his brother’s office. He had some acquaintances there, and it was easy for him to discover what had happened yesterday.
In the afternoon the Minister had come rushing into the Department, almost beside himself with rage. “It is a wretched thing,” he shouted, the moment he entered the door, “whoever has done this is either a fool or a dishonest person.” He did not say it in so many words, but he hinted at it, still worse. “And who did this?” he shouted, waving a document. Everyone shook with fear. Then Karel said: “It is my file,” and wanted to defend himself. “Be silent, sir,” roared the Minister, as he tore the document and threw it on to the table of the youngest official in the Department, his favourite: “Correct it, sir.” And he slammed the door behind him. Everyone remained as if they were petrified. Karel, pale and apparently as mechanical as a doll, closed his desk, and departed without a word. At five o’clock he returned and worked while all the others went home. After all no one really believed that he had made such a mistake; but he did not wish to speak to any one.
Then Vojtech, almost with force, penetrated to the Minister, a terrible, explosive man; and in half an hour he appeared in the doorway, red, exhausted, but with triumphant eyes. The Minister
