"I have nothing to do," said Barlasch, "I will cook a careful
dinner. All that I have saved in money I cannot carry away; all
that was stored beneath the floor must be left there. It is often
so in war."
He had told Desiree that they would have to walk twelve miles across
the snow-clad marshes bordering the frozen Vistula, between midnight
and dawn. It needed no telling that they could carry little with
them.
"You will have to make a new beginning in life," he said curtly,
"with the clothes upon your back. How many times have I done it--
the Saints alone know! But take money, if you have it in gold or
silver. Mine is all in copper groschen, and it is too heavy to
carry. I have never yet been anywhere that money was not useful--
and name of a dog! I have never had it."
So Desiree divided what money she possessed with Barlasch, who added
it carefully up and repeated several times for accuracy the tale of
what he had received. For, like many who do not hesitate to steal,
he was very particular in money matters.
"As for me," he said, "I shall make a new beginning, too. The
Captain will enable me to get back to France, when I shall go to the
Emperor again. It is no place for one of the Old Guard, here with
Rapp. I am getting old, but he will find something for me to do,
that little Emperor."
At midnight they set out, quitting the house in the Frauengasse
noiselessly. The street was quiet enough, for half the houses were
empty now.
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