The music seemed to be playing under a glass catafalque.
The bald head was drinking coffee.
The woman with the lizard hands was staring in front of her.
From an overtired flowergirl Breuer bought roses and divided them between Pat and the two women.
"Shall we dance once together?" said Pat to me.
"No," said I, and thought of the hands that had touched her already to-day; "no"—and felt pretty foolish and mean.
"But yes," said she and her eyes darkened. "No," I replied; "no, Pat."
Then at last we went.
"I'll drive you home," said Breuer to me.
"Very good."
We had a rug in the car and placed it over Pat's knees.
She looked suddenly very pale and tired.
The woman from the bar thrust a piece of paper into my hand as I was leaving.
I made as if nothing had happened and got in.
As we went along I gazed out the window.
Pat sat in the corner and did not move.
I could not even hear her breathing.
Breuer drove first to her place.
He knew where she lived without asking.
She got out.
Breuer kissed her hand.
"Good night," said I, without looking at her.
"Where can I put you down?" Breuer asked me.
"At the next corner," said I.
"I'd gladly drive you home," he replied, rather too hastily and too politely.
He wanted to prevent my going back.
I considered whether I should not land him one.
But he was not worth the trouble.
"All right, then drive me to
'The Bar Freddy,' " said I.
"Can you get in there, then, at this hour?" he asked.
"It's nice of you to ask," said I; "but don't worry—I can get in anywhere still."
I no sooner said it than I was sorry.
He had certainly been feeling grand and that he had been coming along finely all the evening.
It was a pity to shake it.
I parted from him more amiably than from Pat.
"The Bar" was still pretty full.
Lenz and Ferdinand Grau were playing poker with Bollwies and a few others.
"Sit in, Bob," said Gottfried; "it's poker weather."
"No," I replied.
"Look at that, then," said he, pointing to a pile of money on the table. "No bluffing either.
Flushes are in the air."
"All right," said I, "give us here."
With two kings I bluffed four jacks out a window. "So," said I—"seems to be bluff weather too."
"It's that always," replied Ferdinand pushing a cigarette across to me.
I did not mean to stay long.
But at last I had solid ground under my feet.
I was not feeling too good; but at least this was my old, time-honoured homeland.
"Bring us a half-bottle of rum here," I called to Fred.
"Try some port in it," said Lenz.