ry, it seemed unnatural; but when the day had
not been good--then it seemed natural enough. I wasn't afraid, but I
used to wake up in the night; I hated the oath we had taken, I hated
every one of those fellows; the thing was not what I was made for, it
wasn't my work, it wasn't my nature, it was forced on me--I hated it,
but sometimes I was like a madman."

"Yes, yes," she murmured.

"All this time I was working at the Academie, and learning all I
could.... One evening that we met, Paunitz was not there. Misek was
telling us how the thing had been arranged. Schonborn and I looked at
each other--it was warm--perhaps we were not hungry--it was springtime,
too, and in the Spring it's different. There is something."

Christian nodded.

"While we were talking there came a knock at the door. Lendorf put his
eye to the keyhole, and made a sign. The police were there. Nobody said
anything, but Misek crawled under the bed; we all followed; and the
knocking grew louder and louder. In the wall at the back of the bed
was a little door into an empty cellar. We crept through. There was
a trap-door behind some cases, where they used to roll barrels in. We
crawled through that into the back street. We went different ways."

He paused, and Christian gasped.

"I thought I would get my money, but there was a policeman before my
door. They had us finely. It was Paunitz; if I met him even now I should
wring his neck. I swore I wouldn't be caught, but I had no idea where to
go. Then I thought of a little Italian barber who used to shave me
when I had money for a shave; I knew he would help. He belonged to some
Italian Society; he often talked to me, under his breath, of course. I
went to him. He was shaving himself before going to a ball. I told him
what had happened; it was funny to see him put his back against the
door. He was very frightened, understanding this sort of thing better
than I did--for I was only twenty then. He shaved my head and moustache
and put me on a fair wig. Then he brought me macaroni, and some meat, to
eat. He gave me a big fair moustache, and a cap, and hid the moustache
in the lining. He brought me a cloak of his own, and four gulden. All
the time he was extremely frightened, and kept listening, and saying:
'Eat!'

"When I had done, he just said: 'Go away, I refuse to know anything more
of you.'

"I thanked him and went out. I walked about all that night; for I
couldn't think of anything to do or anywher