So you need not cut off your hair--
all that golden hair. Name of thunder, that would be a pity, would
it not?"
He turned to the fire and stirred his coffee reflectively.
"In my own country," he said, "a long time ago, there was a girl who
had hair like yours. That is why we are friends, perhaps."
He gave a queer, short laugh, and took up his sheepskin coat
preparatory to going out.
"I have my preparations to make," he said, with an air of
importance. "There is much to be thought of. We had not long
together, for the others were watching us. But we understand each
other. I go now to give him the signal that it is for to-night. I
have borrowed one of Lisa's dusters--a blue one that will show
against the snow--with which to give him the signal. And he is
watching from Zoppot with his telescope. That fat Lisa--if I had
held up my finger, she would have fallen in love with me. It has
always been so. These women--"
And he went away muttering.
If he had preparations to make, Desiree had no less. She could take
but little with her, and she was quitting the house which had always
been her home so long as she could remember. Those trunks which
Barlasch had so unhesitatingly recognized as coming from France
were, it seemed, destined never to be used again. Mathilde had
gone, taking with her her few simple possessions; for they had
always been poor in the Frauengasse. Sebastian had departed on that
journey which the traveller must face alone, taking naught with him.
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