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Authors: Arthur Schnitzler
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first talk this over unofficially with the regiment doctor,
Tugut? Or should he perhaps ask First Lieutenant Wimmer for advice?
But what did all this have to do with him? His main concern right now
was for himself, for his particular problem-his career-his life! There
in the first sunbeams stood the monument of the Weaver at the Cross.
And still he hadn't spoken the words that might have served to gain him
an extension, a little extension. Suddenly he felt his neighbor touch his
arm lightly.
"Excuse me, Lieutenant, but let's drop the subject. It's at bottom no
concern of mine whether Lieutenant Greising or anyone else-all the
more so since I will hardly have the pleasure of sitting down at a table
with these gentlemen again."
Willi started.
"What do you mean, Herr Consul?"
"I'm leaving the country," the consul answered coolly.
"So soon?"
"Yes. The day after tomorrow-more precisely: tomorrow, Tuesday."
"For a long time, Consul?"
"Rather-for three-to thirty years."
The highway was now filled with trucks and market wagons. Willi,
looking down, saw the golden buttons of his military cape gleam in the
rays of the rising sun.
"A sudden decision, Consul, this departure?"
"Oh, not at all, Lieutenant. A long-standing decision. I am leaving
for America, not for Ecuador at the moment but for Baltimore, where my
family lives and where I also have a business. Of course, I've not been able to supervise either of these personally for the eight years I've been
gone."
So he has a family, thought Willi. And what about Fraulein Rihoscheck? Does she even know that he's leaving? But what concern of
mine is that? It's high time. I'm choking. And involuntarily he put his
hand to his throat.
"Well, it's very unfortunate," he said helplessly, "that you intend to
leave tomorrow. For I was expecting, yes, I was expecting with some
confidence"-he took on a light, somewhat jocular tone-"that you
would give me the opportunity for a little revenge next Sunday."
The consul shrugged his shoulders, as though this had long been beyond the realm of possibility.
What am I going to do? thought Willi. What'll I do? Just-beg him?
What can a few thousand gulden mean to him? He has a family in America-and Fraulein Rihoscheck-he has a business over there-what can
a few thousand gulden mean to him? But for me they're a matter of life
or death!
They drove under the viaduct into the city. A train was just pulling
out of the South Station. Here are people going to Baden, thought Willi,
and further, to Klagenfurth, to Trieste-and from there perhaps across
the ocean to another hemisphere.... And he envied them all.
"Where can I drop you, Lieutenant?"
"Oh, please," answered Willi, "anywhere you want. I live in the
Alser Barracks."
"I'll bring you to your door, Lieutenant." He gave the coachman the
necessary directions.
"Thanks a lot, sir, it really isn't necessary...."
The houses were all still asleep. The streetcar tracks, still untouched
by the traffic of the day, ran smooth and gleaming alongside. The consul
looked at his watch.
"He drove well-an hour and ten minutes. Do you have a maneuver
today, Lieutenant?"
"No," answered Willi, "today I'm to teach a class."
"Well, then you can still lie down for a while."
"So I will, consul, but I believe I'll take the day off-I'll report myself sick."
The consul nodded and said nothing.
"So you are leaving on Wednesday, sir?"
"No, Lieutenant," answered the consul, emphasizing every word,
"tomorrow. Tuesday evening."
"Consul-I'll frankly confess to you-it's extremely embarrassing
to me, but I fear that it'll be totally impossible for me in such a short
time-before tomorrow at 12 o'clock noon ..."
The consul remained silent. He seemed hardly to be listening.
"If, sir, you would be so kind as to give me a respite?"
The consul shook his head.
"Oh, not a very long one. I could perhaps give you a promissory
note or a confirmation, and would give you my word of honor that
Tugut? Or should he perhaps ask First Lieutenant Wimmer for advice?
But what did all this have to do with him? His main concern right now
was for himself, for his particular problem-his career-his life! There
in the first sunbeams stood the monument of the Weaver at the Cross.
And still he hadn't spoken the words that might have served to gain him
an extension, a little extension. Suddenly he felt his neighbor touch his
arm lightly.
"Excuse me, Lieutenant, but let's drop the subject. It's at bottom no
concern of mine whether Lieutenant Greising or anyone else-all the
more so since I will hardly have the pleasure of sitting down at a table
with these gentlemen again."
Willi started.
"What do you mean, Herr Consul?"
"I'm leaving the country," the consul answered coolly.
"So soon?"
"Yes. The day after tomorrow-more precisely: tomorrow, Tuesday."
"For a long time, Consul?"
"Rather-for three-to thirty years."
The highway was now filled with trucks and market wagons. Willi,
looking down, saw the golden buttons of his military cape gleam in the
rays of the rising sun.
"A sudden decision, Consul, this departure?"
"Oh, not at all, Lieutenant. A long-standing decision. I am leaving
for America, not for Ecuador at the moment but for Baltimore, where my
family lives and where I also have a business. Of course, I've not been able to supervise either of these personally for the eight years I've been
gone."
So he has a family, thought Willi. And what about Fraulein Rihoscheck? Does she even know that he's leaving? But what concern of
mine is that? It's high time. I'm choking. And involuntarily he put his
hand to his throat.
"Well, it's very unfortunate," he said helplessly, "that you intend to
leave tomorrow. For I was expecting, yes, I was expecting with some
confidence"-he took on a light, somewhat jocular tone-"that you
would give me the opportunity for a little revenge next Sunday."
The consul shrugged his shoulders, as though this had long been beyond the realm of possibility.
What am I going to do? thought Willi. What'll I do? Just-beg him?
What can a few thousand gulden mean to him? He has a family in America-and Fraulein Rihoscheck-he has a business over there-what can
a few thousand gulden mean to him? But for me they're a matter of life
or death!
They drove under the viaduct into the city. A train was just pulling
out of the South Station. Here are people going to Baden, thought Willi,
and further, to Klagenfurth, to Trieste-and from there perhaps across
the ocean to another hemisphere.... And he envied them all.
"Where can I drop you, Lieutenant?"
"Oh, please," answered Willi, "anywhere you want. I live in the
Alser Barracks."
"I'll bring you to your door, Lieutenant." He gave the coachman the
necessary directions.
"Thanks a lot, sir, it really isn't necessary...."
The houses were all still asleep. The streetcar tracks, still untouched
by the traffic of the day, ran smooth and gleaming alongside. The consul
looked at his watch.
"He drove well-an hour and ten minutes. Do you have a maneuver
today, Lieutenant?"
"No," answered Willi, "today I'm to teach a class."
"Well, then you can still lie down for a while."
"So I will, consul, but I believe I'll take the day off-I'll report myself sick."
The consul nodded and said nothing.
"So you are leaving on Wednesday, sir?"
"No, Lieutenant," answered the consul, emphasizing every word,
"tomorrow. Tuesday evening."
"Consul-I'll frankly confess to you-it's extremely embarrassing
to me, but I fear that it'll be totally impossible for me in such a short
time-before tomorrow at 12 o'clock noon ..."
The consul remained silent. He seemed hardly to be listening.
"If, sir, you would be so kind as to give me a respite?"
The consul shook his head.
"Oh, not a very long one. I could perhaps give you a promissory
note or a confirmation, and would give you my word of honor that
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