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change his place at a table； quite unconsciously he may come out the other
side of it； but wherever he goes he takes his coat with him。
Some time in the small hours； the chairman suggested that to make
things more comfortable for those still upright； all the gentlemen unable to
keep their heads off the table should be sent home。 Among those to whom
the proceedings had become uninteresting were the three Englishmen。 It
was decided to put them into a cab in charge of a comparatively speaking
sober student； and return them。 Had they retained their original seats
throughout the evening all would have been well； but； unfortunately； they
had gone walking about； and which gentleman belonged to which card
nobody knew least of all the guests themselves。 In the then state of
general cheerfulness； this did not to anybody appear to much matter。
There were three gentlemen and three addresses。 I suppose the idea was
that even if a mistake were made； the parties could be sorted out in the
morning。 Anyhow； the three gentlemen were put into a cab； the
comparatively speaking sober student took the three cards in his hand； and
the party started amid the cheers and good wishes of the company。
There is this advantage about German beer： it does not make a man
drunk as the word drunk is understood in England。 There is nothing
objectionable about him； he is simply tired。 He does not want to talk； he
wants to be let alone； to go to sleep； it does not matter whereanywhere。
The conductor of the party stopped his cab at the nearest address。 He
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took out his worst case； it was a natural instinct to get rid of that first。 He
and the cabman carried it upstairs； and rang the bell of the Pension。 A
sleepy porter answered it。 They carried their burden in； and looked for a
place to drop it。 A bedroom door happened to be open； the room was
empty； could anything be better？… …they took it in there。 They relieved it
of such things as came off easily； and laid it in the bed。 This done； both
men； pleased with themselves； returned to the cab。
At the next address they stopped again。 This time； in answer to their
summons； a lady appeared； dressed in a tea gown； with a book in her hand。
The German student looked at the top one of two cards remaining in his
hand； and enquired if he had the pleasure of addressing Frau Y。 It
happened that he had； though so far as any pleasure was concerned that
appeared to be entirely on his side。 He explained to Frau Y。 that the
gentleman at that moment asleep against the wall was her husband。 The
reunion moved her to no enthusiasm； she simply opened the bedroom door；
and then walked away。 The cabman and the student took him in； and laid
him on the bed。 They did not trouble to undress him； they were feeling
tired！ They did not see the lady of the house again； and retired therefore
without adieus。
The last card was that of a bachelor stopping at an hotel。 They took
their last man； therefore； to that hotel； passed him over to the night porter；
and left him。
To return to the address at which the first delivery was made； what had
happened there was this。 Some eight hours previously had said Mr。 X。 to
Mrs。 X。： 〃I think I told you； my dear； that I had an invitation for this
evening to what； I believe； is called a Kneipe？〃
〃You did mention something of the sort；〃 replied Mrs。 X。 〃What is a
Kneipe？〃
〃Well； it's a sort of bachelor party； my dear； where the students meet to
sing and talk andand smoke； and all that sort of thing； you know。〃
〃Oh； well； I hope you will enjoy yourself！〃 said Mrs。 X。； who was a
nice woman and sensible。
〃It will be interesting；〃 observed Mr。 X。 〃I have often had a curiosity
to see one。 I may；〃 continued Mr。 X。；〃I mean it is possible； that I may
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be home a little late。〃
〃What do you call late？〃 asked Mrs。 X。
〃It is somewhat difficult to say；〃 returned Mr。 X。 〃You see these
students； they are a wild lot； and when they get togetherAnd then； I
believe； a good many toasts are drunk。 I don't know how it will affect me。
If I can see an opportunity I shall come away early； that is if I can do so
without giving offence； but if not〃
Said Mrs。 X。； who； as I remarked before； was a sensible woman： 〃You
had better get the people here to lend you a latchkey。 I shall sleep with
Dolly； and then you won't disturb me whatever time it may be。〃
〃I think that an excellent idea of yours；〃 agreed Mr。 X。 〃I should hate
disturbing you。 I shall just come in quietly； and slip into bed。〃
Some time in the middle of the night； or maybe towards the early
morning； Dolly； who was Mrs。 X。's sister； sat up in bed and listened。
〃Jenny；〃 said Dolly； 〃are you awake？〃
〃Yes； dear；〃 answered Mrs。 X。 〃It's all right。 You go to sleep
again。〃
〃But whatever is it？〃 asked Dolly。 〃Do you think it's fire？〃
〃I expect；〃 replied Mrs。 X。； 〃that it's Percy。 Very possibly he has
stumbled over something in the dark。 Don't you worry； dear； you go to
sleep。〃
But so soon as Dolly had dozed off again； Mrs。 X。； who was a good
wife； thought she would steal off softly and see to it that Percy was all
right。 So； putting on a dressing…gown and slippers； she crept along the
passage and into her own room。 To awake the gentleman on the bed
would have required an earthquake。 She lit a candle and stole over to the
bedside。
It was not Percy； it was not anyone like Percy。 She felt it was not the
man that ever could have been her husband； under any circumstances。 In
his present condition her sentiment towards him was that of positive
dislike。 Her only desire was to get rid of him。
But something there was about him which seemed familiar to her。 She
went nearer； and took a closer view。 Then she remembered。 Surely it was