Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 18, 2025
The old man drew off with considerable difficulty his torn, gray, funereal gloves and, from the depths of a greasy pocket-book, produced a card which had, evidently, passed through a good many hands. "A sharper," Niebeldingk repeated to himself, "but on a pretty low plane." He read the card: "Kohleman, retired clerk of court." And below was printed the addition: "Knight of several orders."
Outside it occurred to him that he hadn't told her the anecdote of Fritz and the Indian lilies. "It's a pity," he thought, "it might have cheered her." ... Next morning Niebeldingk sat at his desk and reflected with considerable discomfort on the experience of the previous evening. Suddenly he observed, across the street, restlessly waiting in the same doorway the avenging spirit!
Then the door opened and, diffidently, but with a kind of professional dignity, the knight of several honourable orders entered the room. Niebeldingk made rapid observations: A beardless, weatherworn old face with pointed, stiff, white brows. The little, watery eyes knew how to hide their cunning, for nothing was visible in them save an expression of wonder and consternation.
"For whom?" "I beg your pardon, I suppose that was tactless, Herr von Niebeldingk." "It was, dear Fritz. But don't worry about it, just come." The introduction went smoothly. Fritz behaved as became the son of a good family, was respectful but not stiff, and answered her friendly questions briefly and to the point. "He's no discredit to me," Niebeldingk thought.
Niebeldingk arose, wrote the address without permitting John, who stood in suspicious proximity, to throw a glance at it, handed cards and flowers to the girl, gave her a tip, and escorted her to the door himself. "So they do mean something special?" Fritz asked eagerly. He couldn't get over his enthusiasm. "Yes, my boy." "And may one know...." "Surely, one may know.
It's no good getting into trouble with her! ... If you want to avoid any unpleasantness, I can only advise you to consent right away.... You can back out later.... But that would be the easiest way." Niebeldingk laughed heartily. "Yes, you can laugh," the old gentleman said sadly, "that's because you don't know my sister." "But you know her, my dear man.
"If I could describe to you the contempt with which I regard my former mode of life ... everything is different ... different ... so much purer ... nobler ... I'm absolutely a stoic now.... And that gives one a feeling of such peace, such serenity! And I have you to thank for it, Herr von Niebeldingk." "I don't understand that. To teach in the stoa is a new employment for me."
"But that's all piffle, Herr von Niebeldingk, ... all this book-worm business can go to the devil.... Life life life that's the main thing!" "What do you call life, Fritz?" With both hands he stroked the velvety surface of his close-cropped skull. "Well, how am I to tell you? D'you know how I feel?
Something hardened in him and he felt a new inclination to sarcasm. "Forgive me for leaving you," she said, "one must have patience with the folly of my sex. You know that well." And she preceded him to his old place. Screaming with pleasure Joko flew forward to meet her, and Niebeldingk remained standing to take his leave. She did not hold him back.
That gentleman, enlivened by the wine he had taken, pranced with a new flexibility along the side-walk. "Like the count in Don Juan," Niebeldingk thought, "only newly equipped and modernised." The intervention of the young officer placed the whole affair upon an intelligible basis. It remained only to treat it with entire seriousness.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking