d in a minute, the
further occupants of the room had gathered round them, the
billiard-players with their cues in their hands. Two waiters, napkin on
arm, hastened up, and the proprietor came out from an inner room, and
rubbed his hands.

"MEINE HERREN! MEINE HERREN!"

Krafft had jumped to his feet; he was also unable to refrain from
putting his hand to his tingling face. Maurice, who was very pale,
stood staring, like a person in a trance, at the mark, now deep red,
which his hand had left on his friend's cheek. There was a solemn
pause; all eyes were fixed on Krafft; and the stillness was only broken
by the proprietor's persuasive: "MEINE HERREN! MEINE HERREN!"

In half a minute Krafft had collected himself. Turning, he jauntily
waved his hand to those pressing up behind; though one side of his face
still blazed and burned.

"Don't allow yourselves to be disturbed, gentlemen. The incident is
closed--for the present, at least. My friend here was carried away by a
momentary excitement. Kindly resume your seats, and act as if nothing
had happened. I shall call him to account at my own convenience.--But
just one moment, please!"

The last words were addressed to Maurice. Opening a notebook, Krafft
tore out one of the little pages, and, with his customary indolence of
movement, wrote something on it. Then he folded it through the middle,
and across again, and gave it to Maurice.

Maurice took it, because there seemed nothing else for him to do; he
also, for the same reason, took his coat and hat, which some one handed
to him. He saw nothing of what went on--nothing but the five outspread
marks, which had run together so slowly. He had, however, enough
presence of mind to do what was evidently expected of him; and, in the
hush that still prevailed, he left the cafe.

The wind sent a blast in his face. Round the corners of the streets,
which it was briskly scavenging, it swept in boisterous gusts, which
beat the gas-flames flat as soon as they reared themselves, and made
them give a wavering, uncertain light. Not a soul was visible. But in
the moment that he stood hesitating outside the brilliancy of the
yellow blinds, the hubbub of voices burst forth again. He moved hastily
away, and began to walk, to put distance between himself and the place.
He did not shrink before the wind-scourged meadows, but fought his way
forward, till he reached the woods. There he threw himself face
downwards on the first bench he came t