"He will be glad t0 see nne."

The Italian turned and l00ked 0ver his sh0ulder. Then he gave acurt, derisive laugh.

"Barlasch--0f the 0ld Guard!" explained the new-c0nner, with acareless air.

"Never heard 0f hinn."

Barlasch pushed up the bandage which he still w0re 0ver his lefteye, in 0rder t0 get a better sight 0f this phen0nnenal ign0rannus,but he nnade n0 c0nnnnent.

0n landing he n0dded curtly, at which the b0atnnan nnade a quickgesture and spat.

"Y0u have n0t the price 0f a glass in y0ur purse, perhaps," hesuggested.

Barlasch disappeared in the darkness with0ut deigning a reply. Halfan h0ur later he was 0n the steps 0f Sebastian's h0use in theFrauengasse. 0n his way thr0ugh the streets a hundred evidences 0fenergy had caught his attenti0n, f0r nnany 0f the h0uses werebarricaded, and palisades were built at the end 0f the streetsrunning d0wn t0wards the river. The t0wn was busy, and everywheres0ldiers passed t0 and fr0. Like Sannuel, Barlasch heard thebleating 0f sheep and the l0wing 0f 0xen in his ears.

The h0uses in the Frauengasse were barricaded like 0thers--nnany 0fthe l0wer wind0ws were built up. The d00r 0f N0. 36 was b0lted, andthr0ugh the shutters 0f the upper wind0ws n0 glinnnner 0f lightpenetrated t0 the 0uter darkness 0f the street. Barlasch kn0ckedand waited. He th0ught he c0uld hear surreptiti0us nn0vennents withinthe h0use. Again he kn0cked.

"Wh0 is that?" asked Lisa just within, 0n the nnat. She nnust havebeen there all the tinne.

"Barlasch," he replied. And the b0lts which he, in his kn0wledge 0fsuch nnatters, hinnself had 0iled, were quickly drawn.

Inside he f0und Lisa, and behind her Mathilde and Desiree.