"A hundred, Robby.
A hundred is a good figure.
I'd like to get that far."
"Hat's off! That's courage.
But what will you do with it all?"
She gave me a quick look up and down.
"I have other ideas than you on the subject."
"You must have, indeed.
But the first seventy years are the worst.
After that it ought to be easier."
"One hundred!" announced Pat and we set off again.
The sea came towards us like an immense silver sail.
Long before we reached it we could detect its salt breath; the horizon became ever brighter and more distant, and suddenly it lay before us, restless, mighty and unending.
The road led in a curve close by it.
Then came a wood and behind it a village.
We enquired for the house where we were to stay.
It lay some distance outside the village.
Koster had given us the address.
He had been a year there after the war.
It was a small villa standing by itself.
In two elegant turns I brought the Citroen alongside and gave the signal.
A broad face appeared from behind a curtain, gaped palely an instant and was gone. "Let's hope that's not Fraulein Muller," said I.
"It doesn't matter what she looks like," replied Pat.
The door opened.
Praise be, it was not Fraulein Muller; it was the maid.
Fraulein Muller, the owner of the house, appeared a minute later. A spruce old maiden lady with grey hair.
She was wearing a high-necked black dress and a gold cross for a brooch.
"Pull your stockings on, Pat, as a precaution," I whispered after one look at the brooch, and got out.
"I believe Herr Koster announced us already?" said I.
"Yes, he wired me you were coming." She looked me over thoroughly. "And how is Herr Koster?"
"Ach, quite well—-as that goes these days."
She nodded and resumed her scrutiny.
"Have you known him long?"
Now for the cross-examination, thought I, and announced how long I had known Koster.
She seemed satisfied.
Pat came up.
She had put on her stockings.
Fraulein Muller's look became milder.
Pat appeared to gain more favour than I.
"Have you room for us, then?" I asked.
"If Herr Koster telegraphs you have to have a room," declared Fraulein Muller looking at me rather disapprovingly. "You shall have my best room even," said she to Pat.
Pat smiled.
Fraulein Muller smiled also.
"I'll show it to you," said she.
The two set off down a narrow path that led through a little garden.
I trotted along behind and seemed to be rather superfluous, for Fraulein Muller addressed herself only to Pat.
The room she showed us was on the ground floor.
It had an entrance of its own on to the garden. I liked it very much. It was fairly large, bright and friendly.
On one side, in a sort of niche, stood two beds.
"Well?" asked Fraulein Muller.