a genuine romance?

Just as the chase was at its height, the quarry disappeared into a
gate-way; and it was really high time, for, truth to tell, the hunter
was rather exhausted.

He read with a certain relief the number, "34," over the gate, then went
a few steps farther on, in order to throw any possible observer off the
scent, and stopped beside a street-lamp to recover his breath. It was,
as aforesaid, a warm day; and this, combined with his violent emotion,
had thrown Hans into a strong perspiration. His toilet, too, had been
disarranged by the reckless eagerness with which he had hurled himself
into the chase.

He could not help smiling at himself, as he stood and wiped his face and
neck, adjusted his necktie, and felt his collar, which had melted on the
sunny side. But it was a blissful smile, he was in that frame of mind
in which one sees, or at any rate apprehends, nothing of the external
world; and he said to himself, half aloud, "Love endures everything,
accepts everything."

"And perspires freely," said a fat little gentleman whose white
waistcoat suddenly came within Cousin Hans's range of vision.

"Oh, is that you, uncle?" he said, a little abashed.

"Of course it is," answered Uncle Frederick. "I've left the shady side
of the street expressly to save you from being roasted. Come along with
me."

Thereupon he tried to drag his nephew with him, but Hans resisted. "Do
you know who lives at No. 34, uncle?"

"Not in the least; but do let us get into the shade," said Uncle
Frederick; for there were two things he could not endure: heat and
laughter--the first on account of his corpulence, and the second on
account of what he himself called "his apoplectic tendencies."

"By-the-bye," he said, when they reached the cool side of the street,
and he had taken his nephew by the arm, "now that I think of it, I do
know, quite well, who lives in No. 34; it's old Captain Schrappe."

"Do you know him?" asked Cousin Hans, anxiously.

"Yes, a little, just as half the town knows him, from having seen him on
the esplanade, where he walks every day."

"Yes, that was just where I saw him," said his nephew. "What an
interesting old gentleman he looks. I should like so much to have a talk
with him."

"That wish you can easily gratify," answered Uncle Frederick. "You need
only place yourself anywhere on the ramparts and begin drawing lines in
the sand, then he'll come to you."

"Come to you?" said Cousin Hans.