Then he timidly and hesitantly stuck the first knife that he could
get his hands on into his left breast. Blood and the bloody remains
of salad spurted around him. This time the attempt to kill himself
was crowned with success.



IV


Lisel Liblichlein appeared the next evening earlier than the agreed
upon hour. Kuno Kohn opened the door, holding flowers in his hand.
He was visibly happy; he said that he had scarcely hoped that she
would come. She placed her arms around his bony body, sucked him to
her body, and said: "You dear humped little dummy... I love you so
much--"

The ate a simple evening meal. She stroked him when something tasted
good to her. She said that she wanted to remain with him until early
morning. Then she could celebrate the beginning of her eighteenth
birthday with him...

A church bell announced the new day.. The first loud breaths were
like groaned prayers in Kohn's dusky room. There Lisel Liblichlein's
young soul-body had become a temple; she had endured pain with
touching matter of factness, to sacrifice herself to the hunch-backed
priest. She had said: ``Are you happy now"--She lay dissolved in
dream and emotion. The thin skin of her eyelids enveloped her.

Suddenly fright ran through her body. She had fear like claws in her