"Come on, Robby," said Pat, "let's see if we can't dance."
The floor revolved slowly around us.
The violin and cello rose in liquid melody above the whispering orchestra.
Lightly the feet of the dancers glided over the floor.
"But my dearest darling, you dance marvellously all of a sudden," said Pat in surprise.
"Well, hardly marvellously—"
"But yes.
Where did you learn?".
"Gottfried showed me," said I.
"In the workshop?"
"Yes, and the Cafe International.
We had to have ladies, naturally.
Rosa, Marian and Wally put the finishing touches.
But I'm afraid the result isn't exactly what would be called elegant."
"Oh yes!" Her eyes were shining. "The first time we've ever danced together, Robby."
Alongside us the Russian was dancing with the Spanish girl.
He smiled and nodded to us.
The Spaniard was very pale.
Her black, glistening hair encircled her brow like the raven's wing.
She danced with a fixed, solemn face.
On her wrist was a bracelet of big, square emeralds.
She was eighteen.
From the table the violinist followed her with lustful eyes.
We went back again.
"Now I'd like a cigarette," said Pat.
"You oughtn't to, you know," I replied prudently.
"Only a few draws, Robby.
It's so long since I had a smoke." She took the cigarette but soon laid it aside. "I don't like the taste, Robby.
I just don't like it any more."
I laughed. "It's always so when you've been deprived of anything for a long time."
"You were deprived of me for a long time," said she..
"It's so only with poisons," I replied: "Schnapps and tobacco."
"Human beings are a much worse poison than schnapps or tobacco, darling."
I laughed.
"You are a clever child, Pat."
She propped her arms on the table and looked at me.
"You have never taken me really seriously, have you?"
"I've never taken myself really seriously," I replied.
"Nor me.
Be truthful for once."
"I don't know about that.
But the two. of us together I've always taken terribly seriously, I do know that."
She smiled.
Antonio invited her to dance.
The two walked to the dance floor.
I watched while they danced.
She smiled at me each time as she passed.
Her silver shoes hardly touched the floor. She had the movements of an antelope.
The Russian was dancing with the Spanish girl again.
Both were silent.