y after the completion of this ceremony.

"Did you sleep well, Herr Advokat?" asked Michael Petroff, bending
forward a little and smiling pleasantly.

"Did I sleep well? Yes, thank you."

"I too passed an excellent night," Michael Petroff continued with a
bright happy laugh. "Really excellent. I had a dream--," he added,
smiling and gazing out into the garden with his right eye half closed.
"Yes, indeed!--Now do come into my office, my friend. I have news.
After you!" He laid his hand on the little lawyer's shoulder and with a
slight bow allowed him to pass in first.

Captain Michael Petroff was a tall slender man with cheerful steel-blue
eyes and a small blond mustache, which like his soft, blond, parted
hair, was beginning to turn white. He was dressed with scrupulous
neatness and was carefully shaved. His chin was round and exquisitely
formed, though a trifle weak, the modeling of his mouth was unusually
fine and delicate, like that of a mere boy.

"Please be seated," said Michael Petroff, while with a gesture he
invited the lawyer to sit on the sofa.

"But perhaps I am intruding?" whispered the lawyer, and remained
standing.

"No, indeed! How could you--?" And Michael Petroff led the lawyer over
to the sofa. The little man sat down timidly, looking gratefully up at
his host. "You are so very busy--I know--," said he, and nodded at the
writing table, which was heaped with documents, newspapers, and
manuscripts.

"I have plenty to do," added Michael Petroff, with a curious smile on
his pretty boyish lips. "But one has always time for one's friends.
Here, do listen! I have just outlined a petition to the Hessian
government--," Michael Petroff smiled and balanced a sheet of paper
on his hand--"The Hessian government is to be urgently requested,
most--urgently--requested, to reconsider the verdict in the case of
a teacher!"

Michael Petroff glanced at his guest while four deep lines suddenly
appeared on his forehead. "This teacher," he went on, "was sentenced to
four years' imprisonment, only think--four years. He had ten mouths to
feed and he embezzled some funds. Voila tout! What do you think of
that! Ha, ha! That is the way of the world, you see! In my petition I
demand not merely that the sentence should be revoked, but also that
officers' salaries should be increased. I demand it--I, Captain Michael
Petroff, and I shall also appear in the _Non-Partisan_. You will see,
my friend!" Michael Petroff cast a f