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Updated: June 25, 2025
"I will make it now; say five thousand marks, and if nothing more is said of this matter by you or Katrina, there will be another one like it a year later." The young man's eyes gloated as I wrote the check, which he pocketed with greedy satisfaction. "Now," I said, "will this end the affair for the present?" "This makes it all right with me," replied Holknecht, "but what about Katrina?"
"Of course," I said, "I must come again, for you are very charming, but I am afraid it will not be for some time as I have very important duties and just at present my leisure is exceedingly limited." And so I made my escape, and hastened home. After debating the question pro and con I typed a note to Holknecht in which I assured him that I had not the least interest in Katrina.
A promotion, perhaps, to a good position in the Protium Works?" "No," said Holknecht, "I would rather stay where I am, but I could use a little extra money." "Of course; a check, perhaps; a little gift from an old friend who has risen to power; there would be no difficulty in that, would there?" "I think it would go through all right."
"A necklace of rubies, the best they have, one that will cost at least twenty thousand marks." "That's rather expensive, is it not?" "But her favourite lover disappeared," fenced Holknecht, "and his death was never entered on the records.
I first set Marguerite's mind at ease about the checks to Bertha by explaining the incident of the geography, and then told the story of Katrina and the meeting in the cafe, and the later affair of Holknecht and the necklace. "And you will promise me never to see her again?" "But you have forgotten," I said, "that I am leaving Berlin in four days."
Alone again in my apartment I found difficulty in getting my mind back upon chemical books. With a sense of relief I reported to Holknecht that I thought myself sufficiently recovered to return to work. My laboratory I found to be almost as secluded as my living quarters. I was master there, and as a research worker I reported to no man until I had finished the problem assigned me.
But I cultivated a slowness and brevity of speech. One day as I sat reading the attendant announced, "A visitor to see you, sir." Trembling with excitement and fear I tensely waited the coming of the visitor. Presently a stolid-faced young man followed the attendant into the room. "You remember Holknecht," said the nurse, "he is your assistant at the laboratory."
"You are quite right, Holknecht," I said; "I am not Karl Armstadt; and, just as you have surmised, there were grave reasons why I should have been put into his place under those peculiar circumstances. But this matter is a state secret of the Chemical Staff and you will do well to say nothing about it. Now is there anything I can do for you?
"Yes," I said, "since you have looked up Holknecht and he has explained to you the reason for the disappearance of the man you knew, I thought best to see you and have an understanding." "But that dumb fellow explained nothing," declared Katrina, "except that he told me that Armstadt went to the mines and you came back and took his place.
For the next few days I lived alone in my apartment unmolested except by an occasional visit from Holknecht, the laboratory assistant, who knew nothing but chemistry, talked nothing but chemistry, and seemed dead to all human emotions and human curiosity.
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