Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 19

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,