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Updated: June 7, 2025
Poons again nodded affirmatively. "Ahlmann?" "Yes." Von Barwig held his breath for a moment; then literally heaved a sigh. What he most feared had indeed come upon him. The world knew; his heart was on his sleeve for daws to peck at. "How long have you known this?" Poons hung his head, he could not answer.
Poons was trying to save enough money to get married, and neither Pinac nor Fico would touch a penny of his earnings, although the boy generously offered them all or any part of his savings to help them tide over until the Spring, when they were reasonably sure of obtaining lucrative engagements. The men had just finished their breakfast and Jenny was washing the dishes for them.
Poons passed through a magnificently furnished drawing-room and library, and thence into the dining-room. "This way," said the girl, opening the dining-room door, beyond which was a passage leading to the kitchen and bedrooms. Poons looked surprised, and the girl hastened to say: "Herr Von Barwig is in the nursery." "Ah, of course," nodded Poons, as he followed her.
During Von Barwig's absence from his room that morning, young Poons had taken possession of it for the purpose of practising on his 'cello, but this was not his only reason. Jenny invariably made it a point to straighten out Von Barwig's room at just about the time that Poons happened to arrive.
"Slissell," repeated Jenny. "Schlüss " "Sliss " Poons gave up trying and went back to his book, reading the following with deep-bated breath and loving emphasis. "Vich -iss to der hotel die vay?" Jenny's reply came with business-like rapidity. "Der pantoffle ist in die zimmer " "Puntoffel," corrected Poons. "Pantoffle," responded his pupil. "Tsimmer," said he.
"He is an early bird," commented Pinac, and he went out humming the latest music-hall ditty which he was playing nightly to the patrons of the café. Poons went along; he had no more idea of his benefactor's condition than the man in the moon. The three men had not seen much of him lately, for they always left him to himself when he signified by his silence that he wanted to be alone.
"I don't know, Herr Von Barwig," replied Poons, in a low voice. "Jenny, do you approve of his action?" "I don't know, professor, I " Jenny laid her head on his shoulder and Von Barwig knew that she loved the young man. "Scoundrel!" began Von Barwig, turning to Poons. He tried to be serious, but the expression on Poons's face made him smile in spite of himself.
There was such a death-like stillness that Poons thought for a moment no one was there; he dreaded he knew not what. As he stood listening to the silence, he thought he heard a child's laughter, and he sighed in relief. The servant came to the door, a sleepy-eyed German mädchen as strong as an ox and nearly as stupid. "Oh, it's Herr Poons," she said. "Come in. I tell Herr Von Barwig "
"Excellent, excellent!" said Von Barwig, rubbing his hands, and going over to the window he pulled up the blind. "He falls into our trap very easily," whispered Pinac to Fico; "but be careful!" Poons looked on and smiled as usual. "I should like nothing better," said Von Barwig. "You shall all dine with me," and before his friends could remonstrate he had invited Poons to the banquet.
Poons begged him to speak to Jenny for him; he pleaded so hard that Jenny asked Von Barwig if he was talking about her. "Ask him if he likes me!" said Jenny innocently. "I will," replied Von Barwig, and he turned to Poons. "Do you love her?" he asked.
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