artner's awkwardness, at the utmost counting only his
honors. I never take a hand at cards, without a certain feeling of
solemnity, as if we then compelled fate, which usually only allows
herself to be seen through a rift in the clouds, to sit down close
beside us and show her real colors. What, on the contrary, is a
melodrama, comedy, or tragedy, at which fate is separated from us by
the orchestra and prompter's box, and we can lose nothing except our
admission fee and faith in a new development of the German stage?
Instead of the 'stage,' we ought to talk of 'the cards' that parody the
world."

"A fine world, in which there are only knaves, kings, and queens, with
the exception of a few insignificant mutes; and all this for a few
penitents! No, my dear fellow, as I lack an appreciation of money, even
more than an appreciation of play--"

Mohr puffed huge clouds of smoke into the air. "If you only say that,
to avoid being compelled to acknowledge that I'm right, I'll forgive
you," he said calmly. "But if you really made such a worthless remark
in earnest, I pity you. You're generally clever, Edwin, or rather you
think it worth while, when we're talking together, not only to pour out
pure wine for me, but, as I'm a connoisseur, your best brands. Shall I
tell you why, at this moment, you don't care a straw what you say?
Because, for the last three hours, I've only rejoiced in your bodily
presence, your soul has been far away."

"And where has it taken up its abode, omniscient friend?"

"Hm! do you see the telegraph poles, which appear between the pines
yonder, and show that iron rails run through the forest beneath them?
If, for a few hours, you follow toward the East the wires which are
scarcely visible from here, in the direction from whence we have just
come, your worthy body will reach the spot where your honored soul is
at the present moment, and which it has not left five minutes today."

"You maybe right, my dear fellow," replied Edwin gravely. "I confess
I've been thinking all the morning, whether it was not ridiculous
nonsense to leave my little wife again, and without even a farewell
kiss. She cannot feel happy, and I'm very miserable, while you, poor
martyr to friendship, must be bored with me, whether you like it or
not. No"--and he sprang to his feet with sudden resolution--"we must
not carry anything too far, even want of consideration for our friends.
Do you think I don't know that by following the te