The Torrents Of Spring
The Torrents Of Spring
The Torrents Of Spring
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<strong>The</strong> carriage wheels rumbled over the paved roads of Frankfort, and<br />
stopped at last before the hotel where Sanin was living.<br />
Escorted by his two companions, he went up the stairs, when suddenly<br />
a woman came with hurried steps out of the dark corridor; her<br />
face was hidden by a veil, she stood still, facing Sanin, wavered a little,<br />
gave a trembling sigh, at once ran down into the street and vanished, to<br />
the great astonishment of the waiter, who explained that ‘that lady had<br />
been for over an hour waiting for the return of the foreign gentleman.’<br />
Momentary as was the apparition, Sanin recognised Gemma. He recognised<br />
her eyes under the thick silk of her brown veil.<br />
‘Did Fräulein Gemma know, then?’… he said slowly in a displeased<br />
voice in German, addressing Emil and Pantaleone, who were following<br />
close on his heels.<br />
Emil blushed and was confused.<br />
‘I was obliged to tell her all,’ he faltered; ‘she guessed, and I could not<br />
help it… . But now that’s of no consequence,’ he hurried to add eagerly,<br />
‘everything has ended so splendidly, and she has seen you well and<br />
uninjured!’<br />
Sanin turned away.<br />
‘What a couple of chatterboxes you are!’ he observed in a tone of annoyance,<br />
as he went into his room and sat down on a chair.<br />
‘Don’t be angry, please,’ Emil implored.<br />
‘Very well, I won’t be angry’ – (Sanin was not, in fact, angry – and,<br />
after all, he could hardly have desired that Gemma should know nothing<br />
about it). ‘Very well … that’s enough embracing. You get along now. I<br />
want to be alone. I’m going to sleep. I’m tired.’<br />
‘An excellent idea!’ cried Pantaleone. ‘You need repose! You have fully<br />
earned it, noble signor! Come along, Emilio! On tip-toe! On tip-toe! Sh –<br />
sh – sh!’<br />
When he said he wanted to go to sleep, Sanin had simply wished to<br />
get rid of his companions; but when he was left alone, he was really<br />
aware of considerable weariness in all his limbs; he had hardly closed his<br />
eyes all the preceding night, and throwing himself on his bed he fell immediately<br />
into a sound sleep.<br />
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