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Fischelowitz paid each worker for the day's work, in his quick, cheerful way, and each, being paid, passed out through the front shop into the street. Five minutes later the Count was strolling along the Maximilians-strasse in the direction of the royal palace.
Next came Vjera, paler than ever, with great black rings under her tired eyes, broken with the fatigues and anxieties of the previous day, but determined to double her work, if that were possible, in order to make up for the money she had borrowed of Schmidt and, through him, of Dumnoff. As she dropped her shawl, Fischelowitz caught sight of the back of her head, and broke into a laugh.
It was, indeed, reckoned as favourable to him that he had returned and submitted to being handcuffed without offering further resistance, but it might have gone hard with him if Fischelowitz had not procured the co-operation of a Munich householder and taxpayer to bail him out until the inquiry should be made.
I gave my word, my word as a gentleman, Vjera, which I cannot break my word, as a gentleman," he repeated with something of his old dignity. "It is monstrous that Fischelowitz should have taken such a promise," said Vjera. "That does not alter the obligation," answered the Count proudly. "Besides, I gave it of my own accord.
During a number of years you have afforded me the opportunity of earning an honest living, and I have to thank you very heartily for the forbearance you have shown me. It is not your fault if your consideration for me has sometimes taken a passive rather than an active form. It was not your business to fight my battles. Give me your hand, Herr Fischelowitz. We part, as we have lived, good friends.
Akulina's unmistakable step was heard in the passage a moment later. Schmidt would have preferred that Fischelowitz should have come himself, though he managed to live on very good terms with Akulina. Though far from tactful he guessed that in a matter concerning the Count, the tobacconist would prove more obliging than his wife.
"There was a row, and the man made a great deal of trouble and at last the police were called in, and I came to get Herr Fischelowitz himself to come and prove that the Gigerl was his. You see why I am in such a hurry." "Do you think they have arrested the Count?" "I imagine that every one concerned would be taken to the police-station." "And then?"
"For many things, all of which have proceeded from your kindness of heart and have resulted in making my life bearable during the past months or years. I keep little account of time. How long is it since I have been making cigarettes for Fischelowitz, at the rate of three marks a thousand?" "Ever since I can remember," answered Vjera. "It is six years since I came to work there as a little girl."
The latter came to her side, if not for protection, as might be maliciously supposed, at least for company. "I cannot understand at all," said Fischelowitz, still edging away. "You understand well enough, I think, and as for you, Frau Fischelowitz, I have something to talk of with you, too. But we will put it off until later," he added, as though suddenly changing his mind.
I think your coming to-day must have disturbed me, as I have some difficulty in recalling the circumstances which attended our meeting here." "A passing indisposition," suggested Grabofsky. "Nothing more. The weather is warm, sultry in fact." "Yes, it must have been that. And now, we had better communicate the state of things to Herr Fischelowitz, to whom I consider myself much indebted."
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