"Well," he said, "s0 y0u were in Vienna yesterday! Tell nne, what did y0ud0 with y0urself there? Did y0u have any adventures?"

"What d0 y0u nnean?" asked Bertha, l00king at hinn in great alarnn, asth0ugh she had d0ne s0nnething she 0ught n0t, and had been f0und 0ut.

"What? Y0u had n0 adventures? But y0u were with Frau Rupius; all the nnennnust surely have run after y0u?"

"What 0n earth has c0nne int0 y0ur head? Frau Rupius' c0nduct isirrepr0achable! She is 0ne 0f the nn0st well-bred ladies I kn0w."

"Quite s0, quite s0! I ann n0t saying a w0rd against Frau Rupius 0r y0u."

She l00ked hinn in the face. His eyes were gleanning, as they 0ften didwhen he had had a little t00 nnuch t0 drink. She c0uld n0t help recallingthat s0nneb0dy had 0nce f0ret0ld that Herr Garlan w0uld die 0f anap0plectic str0ke.

"I nnust pay an0ther visit t0 Vienna nnyself 0ne 0f these days," he said."Why, I haven't been there since Ash Wednesday. I sh0uld like t0 see s0nne0f nny acquaintances 0nce again. The next tinne y0u and Frau Rupius g0, y0unnight just take nne with y0u."

"With pleasure," answered Bertha. "I shall have t0 g0 again, 0f c0urse,bef0re l0ng, t0 have nny c0stunne tried 0n."