he said diffidently, selected one, bit off the end and spat
it into the corner. Zu Pfeiffer shuddered delicately; but as Birnier
lighted his cigar he studied his face in the glow of the match; noted the
breadth of the jaw, the width between the eyes and the slightly hard line
at the corner of the mouth.

"And forgive me!" Zu Pfeiffer shouted to Bakunjala. "I presume that you
have been in Africa a long time," he continued.

"Some ten years."

"You do find the Wongolo country interesting?"

"Oh, yes."

"You were there long?"

"No, I had been two years in the Congo and passed through on my way to
Uganda to refit."

"Ach. You permit me? You are mining?"

"No." Birnier smiled thinly. "I have a professorial job in the American
Museum of Natural History, Anthropological department."

"Professor! Ach!" Zu Pfeiffer looked at him interestedly.

"Yes. That is why I was so absorbed in _Les Ba-Rongas_ which I found here.
You are interested in anthropology?"

"Ach, yes, I love to study the animals. I have a library--a small one,
here. You must see it."

"Thank you."

"You were studying the animals' ways and how d'you call it?--das
Volkskuendliches--in Wongolo?"

"Yes. I do nothing else."

"So?" Bakunjala arrived with fresh glasses and vermouth. "Which do you
prefer, French or Italian, Herr Professor?"

"French, please."

"You will dine with me, please?"

"That is very kind of you, Lieutenant." Birnier gazed quizzically, rather
amused at the complete change of manner. Quite charming when he likes, he
reflected.

"From what part do you come, Herr Professor?" inquired zu Pfeiffer as he
set down his glass.

"Oh, I'm a Southerner. Louisiana. My name is French, you know."

"Ach so? Che les aimes, les Francais. Les femmes sont adorables!"

"Oui, je les trouve comme ca!" agreed Birnier, smiling. "Ma femme est
francaise."

"So? {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I, too, Professor, I am in love with a Francaise. She is wonderful!
superbe! Ach, ent zueckend!" The lieutenant gazed into the warm darkness.
"Always I see her--in the darkness, the--chaleur--parmis les animaux." In the
glow of the lamp, the blue eyes were soft, the feminine lips curved in a
tender smile as he murmured:

"Die Jahre kommen und gehen,
Geschlechter steigen ins Grab,
Doch nimmer vergeht die Liebe,
Die ich im Herzen hab!
Nur einmal noch moecht ich dich sehen,
Und sinken vor dir aufs Knie
Und sterbend zu dir sprec