CHAPTER XXVI

ridofyouandhushuptheaffairwithMissEstcourt.Icanseebyyourfaceyouknowwhodidit.EveryoneissayingitisLohm." "Butwhy?Whyshouldhe?Whyshouldheburnhisown——"stammeredKlutz,indreadfulagitation. "Why?Becausetheywereinruins,andwellinsured.Becausehehadnomoneyfornewonesandbecausenowtheinsurancecompanywillgivehimthemoney.Thethingissoplain—Iamsoconvincedthathedidit——" Theyheardthetraincoming.Klutzstoopeddownquicklyandclutchedhisbag."No,no,"saidDellwig,catchinghisarmandgrippingittight,"Ishallnotletyougotillyousaywhatyouknow.YouorLohmtobepunished—whichdoyouprefer?" KlutzgaveDellwigadespairing,huntedlook."He—he——"hebegan,strugglingtogetthewordsoverhisdrylips. "Hedidit?Youknowit?Yousawit?" "Yes,yes,Isawit—Isawhim——" Klutzburstintoawildfitofsobbing. "ArmerJunge,"criedDellwigveryloud,pattinghisbackveryhard."Itisindeedterrible—one'sfathersoill—onhisdeath-bed—andsuchalongjourneyofsuspensebeforeyou——" Andsympathisingatthetopofhisvoicehelookedforanemptycompartment,hustledhimintoit,pushinghimupthehighstepsandthrowinghisbaginafterhim,andthenstoodtalkingloudlyofsickfatherstillthelastmoment."ItrustyouwillfindtheHerrPapabetterthanyouexpect,"heshoutedafterthemovingtrain."Don'tgiveway—don'tgiveway.Thatisourvicar,"heexclaimedtoanacquaintancewhowasstandingnear"anonlyson,andhehasjustheardthathisfatherisdying.Heisoverwhelmed,poordevil,withgrief." Tohiswifeonhisarrivalhomehesaid,"MydearTheresa,"—amodeofaddressonlyusedontherareoccasionsofsupremestsatisfaction—"mydearTheresa,youmaysetyourmindatrestaboutourfriendLohm.TheMisswillnevermarryhim,andhehimselfwillnottroubleusmuchlonger."Andtheyhadashortconversationinprivate,andlateronatdinnertheyopenedabottleofchampagne,andexplainingtotheservantthatitwasanaunt'sbirthday,dranktheaunt'shealthoverandoveragain,andweremerrierthantheyhadbeenforyears.