corridor and had
bowed to him. They had been quite alone. The "Rajah" had come toward
him and had said in a deep, mysterious voice, "My loyal subject!" and
had given him his hand to kiss. "Wait!" the "Rajah" had continued, "I
will show my favor to you. I have very little of the treasure left,
that I brought with me into exile, but--here, take this." And the
"Rajah" had slipped a little gray stone into his hand.

Michael Petroff, on the contrary, looked smilingly and questioningly at
Dr. Maerz, while he stood politely back against the door. Meanwhile he
tipped his head somewhat backward and sidewise and looked at the
Doctor, as if he expected some very special news from him and as if he
knew quite well that Dr. Maerz had such news for him today. So
confidently did he look at him, while a smile played about his pretty
boyish mouth.

But Engelhardt, whose brows were drawn up with pain as if they were
fastened with rivets, had half sat up in bed and was explaining his
needs and his sufferings to the Doctor. He spoke in a guttural tone,
rapidly, in a murmur that was hard to understand, and his voice sounded
like the distant barking of a dog, heard on a still night.

He had come to the end of his strength--the moon was drawing at
him!--in the night thousands of people had begged him on their knees
not to give them up to destruction--only a new soul could give him back
his strength--he felt that he was bending over more and more to the
left and the whole universe might collapse at any moment: all this he
muttered indistinctly, confusedly, his distressful eyes fixed
pleadingly upon Dr. Maerz.

Dr. Maerz listened gravely, as did also Michael Petroff and even the
"Rajah," who had stepped inside the door. And because they were all
listening so earnestly--especially the "Rajah," whose large brilliant
eyes were fixed upon Engelhardt--the little lawyer was once more seized
with fear. He felt as if his legs were sinking through the floor, as if
in a swamp, but just when this fear was about to overwhelm him like
black darkness, a bird lit on the window-sill and chirped, and the
lawyer seemed suddenly transformed.

"I am coming!" he whispered hurriedly.

"Don't go!" said Michael Petroff softly, taking hold of his arm. "Where
are you going?"

"He was calling me!" answered the lawyer and slipped quickly away.

"How he is hurrying!" thought Michael Petroff, and heard himself
laughing inwardly. And presently he said to Dr. Maerz,