How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Scholars from the university at Freyborg had brought him treatises to print. The business dried up after the king appointed Cabbarus chief minister. By order of Cabbarus, official approval was required for every publication; even a text on botany was eyed with suspicion. Anton was reduced to turning out visiting cards for the gentry and billheads for the tradespeople. He was no worse off than other printers in Westmark. A number had been arrested, and some of them hanged. So, to that extent, he was considerably better off. (1.2)
So Anton was doing really well when Cabbarus, the number one guy in the government, didn't mess with freedom of the press. But once Cabby decided to restrict knowledge, business went in the toilet for Anton. People have to stick to printing what Cabbarus says is okay, and if they disobey, they are arrested--or worse.
Quote #2
"Actually, the Bear is the smarter. He usually sets Old Kasperl straight, as you may have noticed. The chief minister, I am happy to say, finds their humor cuts a little too close to the bone. They were—embodied, that is, in their creator—quite recently invited to a hanging: their own. A tribute to their ability to nettle Cabbarus, but an honor I was grateful to forgo. A whole crew of us scriveners awaited the writing of our last pages in the Carolia Fortress. A few succeeded in escaping. I joined them, not wishing Old Kasperl to make his final public appearance on the gallows. Once out, we all separated. I made my way here. These water rats have been most hospitable. They admire lawbreakers." (14.42)
Keller is a political cartoonist, but Cabbarus's censorship shut him down-and put him on the run. He almost got hanged for criticizing Cabby in his cartoons, but escaped in time, thankfully, to stay with Sparrow and Weasel. Needless to say, that was a close shave, and Keller can sympathize with those who hate Cabbarus.
Quote #3
Cabbarus leafed through his papers. "As for you—not long ago a band of rebels attacked the Nierkeeping garrison. I am led to conclude you were present."
"In a cage," protested Las Bombas. "And my colleagues were—"
"Freed by the selfsame rebels. By the strict letter of the law, you were, therefore, at the scene of a brutal crime, where nearly a dozen soldiers were killed. You did nothing to prevent it. You offered no assistance to the authorities, you came forward with no information. A tribunal must look severely on your conduct. It would, in fact, have no choice but to sentence you to the extreme penalty." (23.7-9)
Las Bombas was put in a cage like an animal, which wasn't his fault (though he did commit a small crime), and then is blamed for being stuck in the town square. Cabbarus uses these convenient circumstances to put LB between a rock and a hard place, confining the guy to two choices—help Cabby, go to jail… or worse.