CHAPTER XXX
關燈
小
中
大
ethegate,wasgarlandedwithflowers.LittlemorethananhourhadgonebysinceAxelpassedoutbeneaththemtoruin.
Annawentstraighttothestudy.Hispaperswerelyingaboutindisorderthedrawerofthewriting-tablewasunlocked,andhiskeyshunginitHehadbeenwritingletters,evidently,foranunfinishedonelayonthetable.Shestoodamomentquitestillinthesilentroom.Manskehadgonetofindthecoachman,andshecouldhearhisstepsonthestonesbeneaththeopenwindows.Thedesolationofthedesertedroom,theterriblesenseofmisfortuneworsethandeaththatbroodedoverit,struckherlikeablowthatforeverdestroyedhercheerfulyouth.Sheneverforgotthelookandthefeelingofthatroom.Shewenttothewriting-table,droppedonherknees,andlaidhercheek,withanabandonmentoftenderness,ontheopen,unfinishedletter."Howaresuchthingspossible—howaretheypossible——"shemurmuredpassionately,shuttinghereyestopressbacktheuselesstears."Souselesstocry,souseless,"sherepeatedpiteously,asshefeltthescaldingtears,inspiteofallhereffortstokeepthemback,stealingthroughhereyelashes.Andeverythingelsethatshedidorcoulddo—howuseless.Whatcouldshedoforhim,whohadnoclaimonhimatall?Howcouldshereachhimacrossthisgulfofmisery?Yes,itwasgoodtobebraveinthisworld,itwasgoodtohavecourage,butcouragewithoutweapons,ofwhatusewasit?Shewasawoman,astrangerinastrangeland,shehadnofriends,noinfluence—shewasuseless.Manskefoundherkneelingthere,holdingthewriting-tabletightlyinheroutstretchedarms,pressingherbosomagainstitasthoughitweresomethingthatcouldfeel,hereyesshut,herfaceadesolation."Donotcry,"hebeggedinhisturn,"dearestMiss,donotcry—itcannothelphim."
Theylockeduphispapersandeverythingthattheythoughtmightbeofvaluebeforetheyleft.Mansketookthekeys.Annahalfputoutherhandforthem,thendroppeditatherside.ShehadlessclaimthanManske:hewasAxel'spastorshewasnothingtohimatall.
Theyleftthedog-cartattheentrancetothetownandwentinsearchofaDroschke.Manske'sweather-beatenfaceflushedadullredwhenhegavetheordertodrivetotheprison.Theprisonwasinaby-streetofshabbyhouses.HeadsappearedatthewindowsofthehousesastheDroschkerattledupovertheroughstones,andthechildrenplayingaboutthedoorsandguttersstoppedtheirgamesandcrowdedroundtostare.
Theywentupthedirtystepsandrangthebell.Thedoorwasimmediatelyopenedafewinchesbyanofficialwhoshouted"Thevisitinghourispast,"andshutitagain.
Manskerangasecondtime.
"Well,whatdoyouwant?"askedthemanangrily,thrustingouthishead.
Manskestated,inthemildest,mostconciliatorytones,thathewouldbeinfinitelyobligedifhewouldtellhimwhatstepsheoughttotaketoobtainpermissiontovisitoneoftheinmates.
"Youmusthaveawrittenorder,"snappedtheman,preparingtoshutthedooragain.Thestreetchildrenwereclusteringatthebottomofthesteps,listeningeagerly.
"TowhomshouldIapply?"askedManske.
"Tothejudgewhohasconductedthepreliminaryinquiries."
Thedoorwasslammed,andlockedfromwithinwithagreatnoiseofrattlingkeys.ThesoundofthekeysmadeAnnafeelfaintAxelwasontheothersideofthatostentationofbruteforce.Sheleanedagainstthewallshivering.Thechildrentitteredshewasaveryfinelady,theythought,tohavefriendsinthere.
"Thejudgewhoconductedthepreliminaryinquiries,"repeatedManske,lookingdazed."Whomayhebe?Whereshallwefindhim?IfearIamsadlyinexperiencedinthesematters."
Therewasnothingtobedonebuttofacetheofficial'swrathoncemore.Hetimidlyrangthebellagain.Thistimehewaskeptwaiting.Therewasalittleroundwindowinthedoor,andhecouldseethemanontheothersideleaningagainstatabletrimminghisnails.Themanalsocouldseehim.Manskebegantoknockontheglassinhisdesperation.Themanremainedabsorbedbyhisnails.
Annawassufferingamartyrdom.Herheaddroopedlowerandlower.Thechildrenlaughedloud.Justthenheavystepswereheardapproachingonthepavement,andth