Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 14, 2025
Half an hour later he was on the steps of Sebastian's house in the Frauengasse. On his way through the streets a hundred evidences of energy had caught his attention, for many of the houses were barricaded, and palisades were built at the end of the streets running down towards the river. The town was busy, and everywhere soldiers passed to and fro.
"Yes, and half the defenders of Dantzig are Poles there are your passports pass on." They drove through the dark streets where men like shadows hurried silently about their business. The Frauengasse seemed to be deserted when they reached it. It was Mathilde who opened the door. She must have been at the darkened window, behind the curtain.
There will be a siege, and a long one. Are you and Mademoiselle and I going to sit it out in the Frauengasse together?" "We shall be honoured to have you as our guest," answered Sebastian, with that levity which went before the Revolution, and was never understood of the people. Barlasch did not understand it. He glanced doubtfully at his companion, and sipped his beer.
Like Samuel, Barlasch heard the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen in his ears. The houses in the Frauengasse were barricaded like others many of the lower windows were built up. The door of No. 36 was bolted, and through the shutters of the upper windows no glimmer of light penetrated to the outer darkness of the street. Barlasch knocked and waited.
It was said that Colonel de Casimir that guest whose presence and uniform lent an air of distinction to the quiet wedding in the Frauengasse was a Pole from Cracow. Men also whispered that he was in the confidence of the Emperor. But this must only have been a manner of speaking. For no man was ever admitted fully into the thoughts of that superhuman mind.
She was glad to note that her father did not attach much importance to the arrival of Papa Barlasch; though Mathilde found opportunity to convey her displeasure at the news by a movement of the eyebrows. Antoine Sebastian had applied himself seriously now to his role of host, so rarely played in the Frauengasse.
The address was written on a piece of white leather cut from the uniform of one who had fallen at Borodino, and had no more need of sabretasche or trapping. "Madame Desiree Darragon nee Sebastian, Frauengasse 36, Dantzig." Desiree's heart stood still; for the writing was unknown to her. As she cut the network of string, she thought that Charles was dead.
She could hear the continuous clatter of carts on the quay, and the voices of the men working in the great granaries across the river. The whole city seemed to be astir, and men hurried to and fro in even the quiet Frauengasse, while the clatter of cavalry and the heavy rumble of gun carriages could be heard over the roofs from the direction of the Langenmarkt.
Throughout the night the sound of sleigh-bells could be faintly heard through the double windows, though no sleigh passed through the Frauengasse. A hundred times the bells seemed to come closer, and always Desiree was ready behind the curtains to see the light flash past into the Pfaffengasse. With a shiver of suspense she crept back to bed to await the next alarm.
Once or twice, during the early days of his occupation of the room behind the kitchen in the Frauengasse, he smote himself sharply on the brow, as if calling upon his brain to make an effort.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking