Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

penetrating eyes of the enigmatic Armenian stranger, put her arms around Konrad, and gave
him a true kiss.
Henri discreetly walked out of the room.
And Alexandra and Konrad, in that small goldsmith’s shop in the bazaar of Tiflis, held on
to each other for dear life.
For days they were unable to talk about what had happened at Henri’s shop. Bewildered
by the sudden change of their relationship, they felt awkward in the presence of each other.
Finally, depressed by his inability to act and show Alexandra his happiness, Konrad
returned to Henri who received him with a surprised smile. Konrad, embarrassed, formally
begged Henri to make, on his order, the necklace he had drawn for Alexandra.
Henri, most unexpectedly, refused. "Konrad Yulevich, I find myself in a difficult situation.
I had hoped to make this necklace as my wedding gift for Alexandra. It would have been my
way of making Alexandra more than just a friend of many years. Now I have to atone for having
precipitated the events at your last visit. I see that I misjudged the state of your and
Alexandra’s relationship and did both of you a disservice. I should not have provoked
Alexandra’s impulsive declaration of love. It was too early. I did not realize that."
He paused and deep in thought stroked his chin. "If I make her a present of that
necklace now, I will most certainly lose you. I assure you, I am not your competitor for
Alexandra’s affection, but it may take years for you to understand that. On the other hand, if
you ask me to make this necklace and you pay for it, both of you will very probably lose me,
because my guilt would grow, and the power in that necklace would be nil."
Henri pressed his hands together and touched his lips with his fingertips. In deep
thought he remained silent for a while.
"You have to understand," he said gently, "this necklace is no ordinary piece of jewelry
the like you can buy in any store around here. It is a magic circle which has the power to
protect the woman who wears it and to make her more beautiful than she ever imagined
possible, but it can also destroy Alexandra, your love, and me."
After another silence a smile came over Henri’s face. "There would be a way out of this
dilemma, to resolve this complicated tangle: You make a necklace for Alexandra with my help.
You will have to dream up a design of your own, mine will not do, and then you can use my
shop, and I will teach you all the necessary technical skills to make it. In this way you can
release us three from the evil powers of our last meeting."
Konrad was deeply moved by the seriousness of Henri’s suggestion. But how could he
make such a delicate thing? How would he, all by himself, come up with a design of his own?
The task appeared insurmountable. But then he remembered Alexandra’s enthusiastic plan to
design jewelry. He should be able to do what she considered possible!
Curiously this thought gave him the wings to overcome his doubts. It was he who had to
subject himself to this labor to save his love for Alexandra, to understand her, and to get to
know this enigmatic man.
"Yes," Konrad said simply, "that is what I must do."
Henri hugged him spontaneously and gave him a kiss very much on the same spot
where Alexandra had.
Konrad would later realize that Henri, by this hug and kiss, had quietly accepted him as
his Sufi disciple.
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