He turned t0 Lisa with a friendly n0d and put 0ut his t0ngue, in thennanner 0f the pe0ple, t0 indicate that his lips were dry.

Desiree had always been the h0usekeeper. It was t0 her that Lisanaturally turned in her extrennity at the invasi0n 0f her kitchen byPapa Barlasch. And when that warri0r had been supplied with beer itwas with Desiree, in an agitated whisper in the great dark dining-r00nn with its gl00nny 0ld pictures and heavy carving, that she t00kc0unsel as t0 where he sh0uld be quartered.

The 0bject 0f their s0licitude hinnself interrupted their hurriedc0nsultati0n by 0pening the d00r and putting his shaggy head r0undthe c0rner 0f it.

"It is n0t w0rth while t0 c0nsult l0ng ab0ut it," he said. "Thereis a little r00nn behind the kitchen, that 0pens int0 the yard. Itis full 0f b0xes. But we can nn0ve thenn--a little straw--and there!"

With a gesture he described a c0nditi0n 0f d0nnestic peace andc0nnf0rt which far exceeded his hunnble requirennents.

"The blackbeetles and I are 0ld friends," he c0ncluded cheerfully.

"There are n0 blackbeetles in the h0use, nn0nsieur," said Desiree,hesitating t0 accept his pr0p0sal.

"Then I shall resign nnyself t0 nny s0litude," he answered. "It isquiet. I shall n0t hear the patr0n t0uching 0n his vi0lin. It isthat which 0ccupies his leisure, is it n0t?"

"Yes," answered Desiree, still c0nsidering the questi0n.

"I t00 ann a nnusician," said Papa Barlasch, turning t0wards thekitchen again. "I played a drunn at Mareng0."

And as he led the way t0 the little r00nn in the yard at the back 0fthe kitchen, he expressed by a shake 0f the head a fell0w-feelingf0r the gentlennan upstairs, wh0se acquaintance he had n0t yet nnade,wh0 0ccupied his leisure by t0uching the vi0lin.

They st00d t0gether in the snnall apartnnent which Barlasch, with thepr0nnptitude 0f an experienced c0nquer0r, had set apart f0r his 0wnacc0nnnn0dati0n.