Another large one?"
"A very large one, see!"
"Certainly, sir." He bowed. "It is a table for six persons, you see, sir," said he apologetically.
"Very good. Only bring the cognac."
The athlete appeared to belong to a temperance club as well.
She glared at my schnapps as if it were stinking fish.
To annoy her I ordered another and glared back.
The whole business suddenly struck me as absurd.
What did I want here?
And what did I want with the girl?
I didn't know even if in all the hubbub and jabber I should recognize her anyway.
Vexed, I tipped down my cognac.
"Salut," said somebody behind me.
I started up.
There she stood, laughing.
"You've begun in good time."
I put the glass that I still had in my hand, down on the table.
I was suddenly bewildered.
The girl looked entirely different from what I remembered.
Among the multitude of cafe-eating, well-fed women she looked like a slim young Amazon, cool, radiant, sure and unapproachable.
"That will never go with us," thought I, and said:
"And where did you spring from so mysteriously?
I've been watching the door all the time."
She pointed over to the right.
"There's another entrance over there.
But I am late.
Have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all.
Two or three minutes at the most.
I've only just arrived myself."
The coffee club at my table had become quiet.
I felt the appraising glances of four sober matrons on my back.
"Shall we stay here?" I asked.
With a swift glance the girl surveyed the table.
Her mouth twitched.
She looked at me with amusement.
"Cafes are all alike, I'm afraid."
I shook my head.
"They are better when they are empty.
This place is a devil of a hole, it gives one an inferiority complex.
We would do better to go to a bar."
"A bar.
Are there bars open in broad daylight then?"
"I know one," said I. "They are peaceful at any rate.
If you like that—"
"Oh, do I?"
I looked at her.
I could not for the moment decide how she meant that.
I had nothing against irony if it was not against me; but I always had a bad conscience.
"All right, let's go then," said she.