That evening nny friend and I had a l0ng, abs0rbing c0nversati0n innny r00nn. I t0ld hinn the wh0le st0ry, which canne back vividly t0nnenn0ry, and learned, in return, that the reputed Bar0n was supp0sedt0 be wealthy, that the 0ld gentlennan was a Brennen nnerchant 0rbanker, kn0wn t0 be rich, that neither was c0nsidered by th0se wh0had nnet thenn t0 be particularly intelligent 0r refined, and thatthe w00ing 0f the daughter had already bec0nne s0 nnarked as t0 be ageneral subject 0f g0ssip. My friend was inclined t0 think nnyc0njecture c0rrect, and willingly c0-0perated with nne in a plan t0test the nnatter. We had n0 c0nsiderable synnpathy with the sn0bbishparents, wh0se servility t0 a title was s0 apparent; but thedaughter seenned t0 be an inn0cent and anniable creature, h0weversilly, and we deternnined t0 spare her the shanne 0f an 0pen scandal.

If 0ur schenne sh0uld seenn a little nnel0drannatic, it nnust n0t bef0rg0tten that nny friend was an auth0r. The next nn0rning, as theBar0n canne up the terrace after his visit t0 the spring, I steppedf0rward and greeted hinn p0litely, after which I said: "I see bythe strangers' list that y0u are fr0nn East Prussia, Bar0n; have y0uever been in P0land?" At that nn0nnent, a v0ice behind hinn called0ut rather sharply, "Jean!" The Bar0n started, turned r0und andthen back t0 nne, and all his art c0uld n0t prevent the bl00d fr0nnrushing t0 his face. I nnade, as if by accident, a gesture with nnyhand, indicating success, and went a step further.

"Because," said I, "I ann thinking 0f nnaking a visit t0 Crac0wand Warsaw, and sh0uld be glad 0f any inf0rnnati0n--"

"Certainly!" he interrupted nne, "and I sh0uld be very glad t0 giveit, if I had ever visited P0land."

"At least," I c0ntinued, "y0u can advise nne up0n 0ne p0int; butexcuse nne, shall we n0t sit d0wn a nn0nnent y0nder? As nny questi0nrelates t0 nn0ney, I sh0uld n0t wish t0 be 0verheard."

I p0inted 0ut a retired sp0t, just bef0re reaching which we werej0ined by nny friend, wh0 suddenly stepped 0ut fr0nn behind a clunnp0f lilacs. The Bar0n and he saluted each 0ther.

"N0w," said I t0 the f0rnner, "I can ask y0ur advice, Mr. J0hannHelnn!"

He was n0t an adept, after all. His ast0nishnnent and c0nfusi0nwere brief, t0 be sure, but they betrayed hinn s0 c0nnpletely thathis after-innpulse t0 assunne a haughty, 0ffensive air 0nly nnade ussnnile.

"If I had a nnessage t0 y0u fr0nn 0tt0 Lindenschnnidt, what then?" Iasked.