ttoned. His walk was steady, but his
eyes had a glassy stare, and did not seem to see what they rested on. A
strong odour of brandy went out from him; but he had not been many
minutes in the room before a stronger and more penetrating smell made
itself felt. The rest of the company began to sniff and ejaculate, and
Furst, having tracked it to the corner where the overcoats hung, drew
out of one of Krafft's pockets a greasy newspaper parcel, evidently
some days old, containing bones, scraps of decaying meat, and rancid
fish. The PICCOLO, summoned by a general shout, was bade to dispose of
the garbage instantly, and to hang the coat in a draughty place to air.
Various epithets were hurled at Krafft, who, however, sat picking his
teeth with unconcern, as if what went on around him had nothing to do
with him.

They were now all collected but Schilsky, and much beer had been drunk.
Furst was in his usual state of agitation lest his friend should forget
to keep the appointment; and the spirits of those--there were several
such present--who suffered almost physical pain from seeing another
than themselves the centre of interest, went up by leaps and bounds.
But at this juncture, Schilsky's voice was heard in the next room. It
was raised and angry; it snarled at a waiter. Significant glances flew
round the table: for the young man's outbursts of temper were well
known to all. He entered, making no response to the greetings that were
offered him, displaying his anger with genial indifference to what
others thought of him. To the PICCOLO he tossed coat and hat, and swore
at the boy for not catching them. Then he let his loose-limbed body
down on the vacant chair, and drank off the glass of PILSENER that was
set before him.

There was a pause of embarrassment. The next moment, however, several
men spoke at once: Furst continued a story he was telling, some one
else capped it, and the mirth these anecdotes provoked was more than
ordinarily uproarious. Schilsky sat silent, letting his sullen mouth
hang, and tapping the table with his fingers. Meanwhile, he emptied one
glass of beer after another. The PICCOLO could hardly cope with the
demands that were made on him, and staggered about, top-heavy, with his
load of glasses.

But it was impossible to let the evening pass as flatly as this;
besides, as the general hilarity increased, it made those present less
sensitive to the mood of the guest of honour. Furst was a born speaker,
a