Dream Story Read Online Free PDF Page B

said Fridolin in the tone of an offended fraternity student.
    "I don't mean that."
    "Well, what do you mean?—Why does one need so much courage for this affair? What can possibly happen?" He gave a short and contemptuous laugh.
    "Nothing can happen to me. At best this would be the last time—but perhaps that may be the case anyhow." He stopped and looked out again through the crevice in the curtain.
    "Well, then where's the difficulty?"
    "What did you say?" asked Nachtigall, as if coming out of a dream.
    "Tell me the rest of the story, now that you've started. A secret party? Closed affair? Nothing but invited guests?"
    "I don't know. The last time there were thirty people, and the first time only sixteen."
    "A ball?"
    "Of course, a ball." He seemed to be sorry he had spoken of the matter at all.
    "And you're furnishing the music for the occasion?"
    "What do you mean—for the occasion? I don't know for what occasion. I simply play—with bandaged eyes."
    "Nachtigall, what do you mean?"
    Nachtigall sighed a little and continued: "Unfortunately my eyes are not completely bandaged, so that I can occasionally see something. I can see through the black silk handkerchief over my eyes in the mirror opposite..." And he stopped.
    "In other words," said Fridolin impatiently and contemptuously, but feeling strangely excited, "naked females."
    "Don't say females," replied Nachtigall in an offended tone, "you never saw such women."
    Fridolin hemmed and hawed a little. "And what's the price of admission?" he asked casually.
    "Do you mean tickets and such? There are none."
    "Well, how does one gain admittance?" asked Fridolin with compressed lips and tapping on the table with his fingers.
    "You have to know the password, and it's a new one each time."
    "And what's the one for tonight?"
    "I don't know yet. I'll only find out from the coachman."
    "Take me along, Nachtigall."
    "Impossible. It's too dangerous."
    "But a minute ago you yourself spoke ... of being willing to ... I think you can manage all right."
    Nachtigall looked at him critically and said: "It would be absolutely impossible in your street clothes, for everyone is masked, men and women. As you haven't a masquerade outfit with you, it's out of the question. Perhaps the next time. I'll try to figure out some way." He listened attentively, peered again through the opening in the curtain and said with a sigh of relief: "There's my carriage, good-bye."
    Fridolin hung on to his arm and said: "You can't get away that way. You've got to take me along."
    "But my dear man . . ."
    "Leave it to me. I know that it's dangerous. Perhaps that's the very thing that tempts me."
    "But I've already told you—without costume and mask———"
    "There are places to rent costumes."
    "At one o'clock in the morning?"
    "Listen here, Nachtigall. There's just such a place at the corner of Wickenburg Strasse. I walk past it several times a day." And he added, with growing excitement:
    "You stay here for another quarter of an hour, Nachtigall. In the meantime I'll see what luck I have. The proprietor of the costume shop probably lives in the same building. If he doesn't—well, then I'll simply give it up for tonight. Let fate decide the question. There's a cafe in the same building. I think it's called Cafe Vindobona. You tell the coachman that you've forgotten something in the cafe, walk in, and I'll be waiting near the door. Then you can give me the password and get back into your carriage. If I manage to get a costume I'll take a cab and immediately follow you. The rest will take care of itself. I give you my word of honor, Nachtigall, that if you run any risk, I'll assume complete responsibility."
    Nachtigall had tried several times to interrupt Fridolin, but it was useless——
    The former threw some money on the table to pay his bill, including a generous tip which seemed appropriate for the style of the night, and left. A closed carriage was standing outside. A coachman dressed entirely in black