matter to either of them? Was he not rich and was she not sure of him?
If need were, he could, with one stroke of the pen, repay her
threefold all that she might lose. But, indeed, these reflections were
quite futile. For when two people are so welded together in their
souls, their earthly possessions need no separation. From ten until
half past eleven he sat in a corner of the _Cafe Bauer_ and read the
paper of his native province which, usually, he never looked at. With
childlike delight he read into the local notices and advertisements
things pertinent to his future life.

Bremsel, the delicatessen man in a neighbouring town advertised fresh
crabs. And Alice liked them. "Splendid," he thought "we won't have to
bring them from far." And suddenly he himself felt an appetite for the
shell-fish, so thoroughly had he lived himself into his vision of
domestic felicity.

At twenty-five minutes of twelve he paid for his chartreuse and set
out on foot. He had time to spare and he did not want to cause the
unavoidable disturbance of a cab's stopping at her door.

The house, according to his hope, was dark and silent.

With beating heart he drew forth the key which consisted of two
collapsible parts. One part was for the house door, the other for a
door in her bed-room that led to a separate entrance. He had himself
chosen the apartment with this advantage in view.

He passed the lower hall unmolested and reached the creaking stairs
which he had always hated. And as he mounted he registered an oath
to pass this way no more. He would not thus jeopardise the fair fame