Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/411

 Friedrich.—Oh, sometimes you can. For example, if you see the lover, at half past one in the morning, climbing out of your wife's window.

Mauer.—What's that?

Friedrich.—Well, what do you say to it? Last night at half past one I saw Mr. Otto von Aigner, Ensign in his Majesty's Marines, climb out of the window of the wife of the manufacturer Hofreiter. To which I could make legal oath.

Mauer.—Last night at half past one?

Friedrich.—Yes, I came out here last night.

Mauer.—You did? And where were you until half past one, if I may ask?

Friedrich.—Oh, seems to me you’re thinking of Erna again. In order to reassure you, I took the last train here from Vienna. I walked here from the station and entered the garden as I sometimes do, through the little door, from the meadow. And to my surprise I heard voices. I crept nearer and saw a gentleman and a lady sitting here under the tree. Genia and Otto. At midnight, here in the garden. What they said I could not understand. I remained at a discreet distance. After a few seconds, both get up and disappear inside. I leave the garden quickly through the same door, step around the house, and post myself so that I can easily see who leaves at the door. No one comes. For a half hour no one. The lights in the house are extinguished. Quickly I walk around the gate into the meadow where I keep my eye fixed on Genia's window. It was dark, the night was lovely. I lie down on the meadow in the shadow of the trees which stand near the fence. And I wait. I waited until half past one. At half past one the window opens, a gentleman climbs out, and disappears from my sight for a short time in the dark of the garden. Then I hear the gate open and immediately, thereafter, right past me, swings the slender figure of Ensign Otto von Aigner.

Mauer.—And what did you do then?

Friedrich.—I lay down on the meadow.

Mauer.—Why, you lay there already.

Friedrich.—Quite right. But I lay down more comfortably than before because I no longer had to keep watch, and I slept splendidly till seven in the morning. It is really delightful to sleep in the open on fine summer nights. Only recently some one sang its praises to me.

Mauer.—I hope you're not thinking of any sort of revenge. The only thing you can and may do now is to end it once for all.