gns, when it
was noticed that Frau Kahle had risen to bid farewell, and with her
Lieutenant Pommer, whose escort home she had accepted, her husband
being off on a short official trip.

They were barely gone, when Borgert remarked:

"I think we ought to subscribe for this poor Kahle woman, just enough
to enable her to buy a new dress. I don't think she has anything to
wear besides this faded, worn-out rag of hers. I am sick of seeing
it."

"But you ought to see her at home," interjected Mueller, in a minor key
of disdain. "There she looks worse than a slovenly servant girl. And
she doesn't seem to find time to patch up her dirty gown, while her
boy, the only child she has, runs about the streets like a cobbler's
apprentice from the lower town. One thing, though, that urchin _does_
know--he can lie like Satan."

"Inherited from his mother, of course," remarked Borgert, when a cold
and reproachful look out of Frau Clara's eyes made him stop in the
middle of his sentence. There was an embarrassed silence for a minute,
and when the talk was resumed it no longer furnished such
"interesting" material. Captain Koenig's yawning became more
pronounced, and Leimann was leaning back in his chair, dozing, with
mouth half open. His wife, too, showed unmistakable signs of ennui,
now that the scandal she loved no longer poured forth. Her features, a
moment ago smooth and animated, now looked worn and aged, losing all
their charm. Mueller was still digesting audibly, and hence it seemed
the proper moment for adjourning.

Amid unanimous assurances that "this has been the most enjoyable
evening this season," the leave-taking was finally effected, and the
captain accompanied his last guests down the stairs, and returned
after shooting the strong bolt at the house door.

As he turned off the gas in the drawing-room, he said to Frau Clara:
"Quite interesting, this evening! These are two gentlemen we shall
have to be on our guard against."

CHAPTER II

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CASINO DANCE

"Corporal Meyer! Have all this cleared out of the stable! Instantly!
What beastly filth is this? What? The stable guard is not present?
Then do it yourself; it won't hurt you. Forward, march! And then bring
me the parole book!"

"At your orders, gracious lady!"

Frau Captain Stark strode with rattling steps up and down in the
stable, followed by two ragged-looking dogs. She wore a badly fitting
riding habit of slate-colored cloth, with