. The "Commandor"
tweaks his nose and looks at me.

"Have you anything to live on in the meantime?" he questions.

"No," I reply. "I haven't that either; I haven't eaten anything today,
but...."

"The Lord preserve you, man, it will never do for you to go and starve
yourself to death," he exclaims, feeling in his pocket.

This causes a feeling of shame to awake in me, and I stagger over to
the wall and hold on to it. I see him finger in his purse, and he hands
me half-a-sovereign.

He makes no fuss about it, simply gives me half-a-sovereign,
reiterating at the same time that it would never do to let me starve to
death. I stammered an objection and did not take it all at once. It is
shameful of me to ... it was really too much....

"Hurry up," he says, looking at his watch. "I have been waiting for the
train; I hear it coming now."

I took the money; I was dumb with joy, and never said a word; I didn't
even thank him once.

"It isn't worth while feeling put out about it," said the "Commandor"
at last. "I know you can write for it."

And so off he went.

When he had gone a few steps, I remembered all at once that I had not
thanked him for this great assistance. I tried to overtake him, but
could not get on quickly enough; my legs failed me, and I came near
tumbling on my face. He went farther and farther away from me. I gave
up the attempt; thought of calling after him, but dared not; and when
after all I did muster up courage enough and called once or twice, he
was already at too great a distance, and my voice had become too weak.

I was left standing on the pavement, gazing after him. I wept quietly
and silently. "I never saw the like!" I said to myself. "He gave me
half-a-sovereign." I walked back and placed myself where he had stood,
imitated all his movements held the half-sovereign up to my moistened
eyes, inspected it on both sides, and began to swear--to swear at the
top of my voice, that there was no manner of doubt that what I held in
my hand was half-a-sovereign. An hour after, maybe--a very long hour,
for it had grown very silent all around me--I stood, singularly enough,
outside No. 11 Tomtegaden. After I had stood and collected my wits for
a moment and wondered thereat, I went through the door for the second
time, right into the "Entertainment and lodgings for travellers." Here
I asked for shelter and was immediately supplied with a bed.

* * * * *

Tuesday.