"One moment," said I and got up.
"Yes," he replied like an obedient child and stood up likewise.
"You stay, I'll be back in a minute."
"Forgive me—"
"I'll be back immediately," said I and went in to Pat.
She was sitting upright in bed and looked fresh and well.
"I've had a wonderful sleep, Robby.
Is it midday already?"
"You have been asleep exactly one hour," said I and showed her the watch.
She looked at the hands.
"So much the better; we have lots of time to ourselves still.
I'll get up at once."
"Fine.
I'll come again in ten minutes."
"Have you a visitor?"
"Hasse," said I. "But it won't take long."
I went back, but Hasse was not there.
I opened the door into the corridor, but the passage was also empty.
I went down the passage and knocked on his door.
He did not answer.
I opened the door and saw him standing by the chest of drawers.
Some of the drawers were pulled out.
"Hasse," said I, "take a sleeping draught and lie down and sleep on the business awhile.
You're overexcited now."
He turned slowly toward me.
"Always alone, every night!
Sitting around always like last night; think of it." I told him that would soon change, that there were lots of people who were alone at night.
He made no real response.
I told him again he should go to sleep, perhaps it would all turn out quite harmless yet and his wife be back by evening.
He nodded and gave me his hand.
"I'll look in again this evening," said I and went. I was glad to get away.
Pat had the newspaper spread out before her.
"We could go to the museum this morning, Robby," she suggested.
"To the museum?" I asked.
"Yes.
There's an exhibition of Persian Carpets.
You haven't often been to the museum, perhaps?"
"Never," I replied. "What should I be doing there?"
"True," said she laughing.
"But that doesn't matter." I stood up. "In wet weather you can afford to do something for your education."
We dressed and went.
The air outside was lovely.
It smelt of the forest and dampness.
As we passed the International I saw through the open door Rosa sitting by the bar.
It being Sunday, she had her cup of chocolate in front of her.
On the table lay a little parcel. Evidently she intended going afterwards to see her child as usual.
It was a long time since I had been in the International, and it struck me as odd that Rosa should still be sitting there, placid as ever.
So much had changed with me that I thought it must have been so everywhere else.
We arrived at the museum.
I had supposed we would be pretty much alone, but to my amazement there were a great number of people there.