By a small river outside the examinees' dormitory, a bearded man was washing his face.
"Senior, your temper is still as fiery as ever."
The bearded man turned and saw another bearded man, somewhat shorter. He glanced at him and said with a hint of disdain,
"You've ended up a wanted man. How dare you come here?"
"Senior, you shouldn't put it that way. If I'm a wanted man, then aren't you a spy?
After all, how could a Prussian official's coming to the Austrian Empire to take the civil service exam possibly make sense?"
The shorter bearded man paused, then continued,
"Though I'm wanted in Prussia, I'm not wanted here. They don't even care enough to ban my books."
"The Austrians are too arrogant. They'll regret it. Your books are far more dangerous than the trash they've banned."
The bearded man with a scar on his face said.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Senior."
"Don't get carried away. What are you doing here? They may tolerate your books, but that doesn't mean they'll tolerate you.
Think carefully. The Austrians love capturing people and sending them to Africa to trade with the cannibals."
"I've got so little meat on me, and I'm all stringy. They wouldn't want me. You, on the other hand, are broad-shouldered and packed with muscle. You'd better watch out."
"Stop changing the subject. What exactly are you here for?"
"To see how capable I am, just like you."
The bearded man with the scar on his face laughed.
"Sit."
Then he pulled a cigar from his coat.
"Mexican cigar. Want one?"
The shorter bearded man didn't refuse. He took one, sniffed it, and immediately said,
"Good stuff. Must've cost a pretty penny."
"Not exactly cheap. I bought it at the Austrian royal department store. They're