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on the seat opposite. It was bright enough, the darkness outside made it appear as

when he was on a business trip to Kiev and ran into a riot, and saw a priest on a93

balcony who cut a broad cross in blood on the palm of his hand and held the hand up

who did not understand that. Apart from that, this place here was a filthy dump, andimpossible for him to take a look outside then, still, he did not mean to abuse anyone

Pagereason one mustn't miss it. But if there is no such sight to be seen, then there will be

for I don't want to go through the wet park with you, as I should like to drop in at

supporting himself on his umbrella with one hand, and on the handle of the suitcase"You comedian!" Georg could not resist the retort, realized at once the harm

district, there will probably be a walk all together to that ruin; it will have been agreedGillemann's, after all. It's a quarter to six, so not too late, after all, for paying calls on

only has to send the maid into the others' apartments, where they are sitting over a

junior assistant clerk -- had come in and had said he thought a small fair man hadlike, and no one with whom I could make more strenuous expeditions, no one there

himself for having been neglectful. It should have certainly been his duty to see that

had been cleared up, I were to arrive in this station again on my way back, then Ieveryone!"

upturned faces of people on the seat opposite. In some places smoke was curling fromagainst such invitations. And yet I don't know whether I shall be able to, for it is not so

darkness.no discussion beforehand either, for all will be expected to get together quite easily if

sprung?"

"Georg," said his father in a low voice, without moving.respectable businessman! Do you think I didn't love you, I, from whom you are

fans of puddle water formed, with a rushing sound, behind the turning wheels; it wasthe fact that there was nothing he wanted to find out from me and that he himself still

"Adieu." Raban said.

And what for, where would we go, anyway?"had something else to do. But now all of a sudden he has gone away, and yet I can't

Georg knelt down at once beside his father, in the old man's weary face he sawOn his left, at the window, two gentlemen were sitting opposite each other,

and really never know for certain where all the others are, for if there is a ruin in the

and since he found no guard, he climbed up the steps of the nearest coach by himself,The station clock struck, it was a quarter to six. Raban stopped because he had

easy as I imagine it now when I am still alone and can still do everything, can still gothere was anyone in the bus he might say so. "Yes, yes, and he would like to start now,

been wanting to go by the omnibus. Well, so he had at once come and asked, or hadn'tnearer, as he had expected, he straightened himself again.for a moment Raban was walking against Lement's outstretched arm.

lighted path between large shrubs, rushed into an open place with many emptyThe rain gushed down the back of his neck, inside his collar.

Page

should certainly feel much better. If the scenery does turn out to be boring, as Lementstrutting through the world, finishing off deals that I had prepared for him, bursting

haven't even shrunk from pulling my leg. How could you have a friend out there! I"If at least," Raban thought, "I were to get into a wrong train. Then it would at

between the shafts. Raban rubbed his feet thoroughly on the seat, pulled on clean

But then, later, you got on with him very well. I was proud because you listened to himsays, that need not be a disadvantage at all. One will spend more time in the rooms

bride-to-be what arrangements should be made for his father in the future, for they

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"But your friend hasn't been betrayed after all!" cried his father, emphasizing

There Raban looked around, while calling out "Thank you, thank you!" to the porter,the point with stabs of his forefinger. "I've been representing him here on the spot."

slammed down on the counter the ticket he had been asked for and the change. Now

used to tell us the most incredible stories of the Russian Revolution. For instance,"You have no friend in St. Petersburg. You've always been a leg-puller and you

he at once come and asked?done and, his eyes starting in his head, bit his tongue back, only too late, till the pain

least twice I kept you from seeing him, although he was actually sitting with me in my

108railings into the street, crossed it, leapt through the station entrance, after a while

have here, and he would be getting there soon enough anyway, so that he need not goexpression! What other comfort was left to a poor old widower? Tell me -- and while

Wrapped in the canvas of two sacks that had been cut up, the driver came over,

"Stay where you are, I don't need you! You think you have strength enough toRaban did not answer, shut his umbrella, and the sky closed over him in pallid

who could show me how his crops are doing or show me a quarry he is working there.

The lantern was attached to the end of the shaft; the horse, having beenmy friend came to see us last. I remember that you used not to like him very much. At

many a windowpane -- all were shut right up to the top -- a hissing arc lamp hung atsure! I am still much the stronger of us two. All by myself I might have had to give way,

though the omnibus had black distempered walls and no glass in the windows. There"Yes, that could be done -- but it wouldn't be very nice if I didn't go -- and I'm

shouted at in a muffled voice, began to pull, and the water on top of the bus, now set

carefully taking off the woolen drawers he wore over his linen underpants and hisPage

the reflection of his stable lantern jumping through the puddles at his feet. Irritably heThe road was perhaps hilly; there was surely mud flying up into the spokes;

slipping off his dressing gown as he stood feebly enough, "it'll soon be three years since

These words went hissing through his mind.come over here and that you're only hanging back of your own accord. Don't be too

one. If a stick or the metal-covered corner of a suitcase stuck out, then the ownerPage

Now he'll lean forward, thought Georg, what if he topples and smashes himself!

pipes and cigars, in one place drifting limply past the face of a girl. Often thea short thread through the eye of a needle.

about eye level, and the many raindrops on the glass were white, often single onesMeanwhile Georg had succeeded in lowering his father down again and

back if I want to, for I shall have no one there whom I could pay calls on whenever Iand complain anywhere. Only just now Herr Pirkershofer -- if you please, that's theme? Do shut your umbrella; it stopped raining ages ago. I didn't have a chance to tell

would transfer their luggage, which lay in a narrow blue net over a seat, to anotherwould move. Raban could hear the noise from the platform even when he had shut the

with the other. The coach that he entered was brightly illuminated by the great

meant to lavish there on his father might come too late."Yes, of course I've been playing a comedy! A comedy! That's a good

bethought himself and pushed his suitcase under his seat.found the booking office, and had to knock for a while on the iron shutter. Then the

go with you today, as I'm sleepy, I forgot to tell you that. And now I shall say goodbye,

me today? -- he explained some things to me, didn't he, and described everything as itdoorpost with his right hand, the left hand held open, close to his mouth.

stirring, dripped slowly through a crack into the carriage.

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have offended him even with a single word. I did refuse to spend the evening in town,

letter or books and are delighted by this news. Well, it is not difficult to protect oneselfyou're answering me be you still my living son -- what else was left to me, in my back

passengers would change places, discussing these changes with each other, or they

For one isn't at all sure even of acquaintances of long standing. Wasn't Lement nice to85

but your mother has given me so much of her strength that I've established a finethe pupils, overlarge, fixedly looking at him from the corners of the eyes.

each time putting the suitcase on the step above and then following himself,

no half-measures, and it was hard to see what business a gentleman like this couldhis father had clean changes of underwear. He had not yet explicitly discussed with his

with triumphant glee, and stalking away from his father with the closed face of abut that was only natural, that can't have offended him, for he is a sensible person."

upon some time before. Then, however, one must look forward to it; for that very

"Just think back a bit, Father," said Georg, lifting his father from the chair andPage

will appear to me. He came up and spoke to me and then walked with me, in spite of

"That's quite easy, send a telegram."84

any rate seem to me that the whole enterprise had begun, and if later, after the mistakeHis father leaned forward but did not topple. Since Georg did not come any

would have his attention drawn to this. He would go over and straighten it. Raban alsoand appealed to the mob. You've told that story yourself once or twice since."

porter who was walking nearby hurried him through a glass door onto the platform.

"He has pockets even in his shirt!" said Georg to himself, and believed that withpeople you know fairly well. Addio. Well, a good journey, and remember me to

Lement turned to the right and held out his right hand to say goodbye, so thatFrom a little distance Lement then called back: "I say, Eduard, can you hear

Raban tried to count his change quickly, thinking he ought to be getting more, but a

began an explanation: listen here, he said, he had been playing cards with Lebeda andthey had just been getting on fine when the train came. It would really have been

you."alone in the old house. But now he made a quick, firm decision to take him into his

can't believe it."

palpitations, then he walked quickly along the park pool, went along a narrow, badlytired, yes, I'll go all right. If a telegram came, they'd get a fright, into the bargain. --

talking about the price of goods. "They're commercial travelers," Raban thought and,was no need to think that there were wheels under the floor and in front the horse

amount of light from the main hall of the station, in which it was standing; in front of"Then it's really better for you to go. I was only thinking. . . Anyway I couldn'tsocks. The not particularly clean appearance of his underwear made him reproach

benches leaning against little trees, then went more slowly through an opening in thetoo," Raban answered, leaning out of the door, which he had opened, holding on to the

booking clerk looked out, said it was really high time, took the bank note, and

socks, and sat up straight. Then he heard someone from the station shouting: "Hi!" ifown future establishment. It almost looked, on closer inspection, as if the care he

had both of them silently taken it for granted that the old man would go on livingfor the most part with loose reins that the driver guided the dripping horse. -- Could

room. I could quite well understand your dislike of him, my friend has his peculiarities.

made his knees give.86

suddenly, against all the usual practice, a larger expedition is considered right, for one

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and nodded and asked him questions. If you think back you're bound to remember. He

carriage door and sat down on the last little free bit of a light-brown wooden seat. Heroom, plagued by a disloyal staff, old to the marrow of my bones? And my son

saw many people's backs, and the backs of their heads, and between them the

connection with your friend and I have your customers here in my pocket!"