Hanns Heinz Ewers Alraune Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Bring the dish in
here! We haven’t seen Prince Puckler or fresh cinnamon noodles all
day!”
    Privy Councilor ten Brinken looked around for
a chair. He was a small man, smooth shaven, with thick watery bags
under his eyes. He was repulsive enough with swollen hanging lips,
a huge meaty nose, and the lid of his left eye drooped heavy but
the right stood wide open, squinting around in a predatory manner.
Someone behind him said:
    “Good Day Uncle Jakob.”
    was Frank Braun. The Privy Councilor turned
around; it was very unusual to see his nephew here.
    “You’re here?” he asked. “I can only imagine
why.”
    The student laughed, “Naturally! But you are
so wise uncle. You look good by the way, and very official, like a
university professor in proud dress uniform with all your medals.
I’m here incognito–over there with the other students stuck at the
west table.”
    “That just proves your twisted thinking,
where else would you be sitting?” his uncle said. “When you
once–”
    “Yes, yes,” Frank Braun interrupted him.
“When I finally get as old as you, then I will be permitted–and so
on–That’s what you would tell me, isn’t it? All heaven be praised
that I’m not yet twenty Uncle Jakob. I like it this way much
better.”
    The Privy Councilor sat down. “Much better? I
can believe that. In the fourth Semester and doing nothing but
fighting, drinking, fencing, riding, loving and making poor grades!
I wrote your mother about the grades the university gave you. Tell
me youngster, just what are you doing in college anyway?”
    The student filled two glasses, “Here Uncle
Jakob, drink, then your suffering will be lighter! Well, I’ve been
in several classes already, not just one, but an entire series of
classes. Now I’ve left and I’m not going back.”
    “Prosit!”
    “Prosit!” The Privy Councilor said. “Have you
finished?”

    “Finished?” Frank Braun laughed. “I’m much
more than finished. I’m overflowing! I’m done with college and I’m
done with the Law. I’m going to travel. Why should I be in college?
It’s possible that the other students can learn from you professors
but their brains must then comply with your methods. My brain will
not comply. I find every single one of you unbelievably foolish,
boring and stupid.”
    The professor took a long look at him.
    “You are immensely arrogant, my dear boy,” he
said quietly.
    “Really?” The student leaned back, put one
leg over the other. “Really? I scarcely believe that. But if so, it
doesn’t really matter. I know what I’m doing. First, I’m saying
this to annoy you a bit–You look so funny when you are annoyed.
Second, to hear back from you that I’m right.
    For example, you, uncle, are certainly a
shrewd old fox, very intelligent, clever and you know a multitude
of things–But in college weren’t you just as insufferable as the
rest of your respected colleagues? Didn’t you at one time or
another say to yourself that you wanted to perhaps just have some
fun?”
    “Me? Most certainly not!” the professor said.
“But that is something else. When you once–Well, ok, you know
already–Now tell me boy, where in all the world will you go from
here? Your mother will not like to hear that you are not coming
home.”
    “Very well,” cried Frank Braun. “I will
answer you.”
    “But first, why have you have rented this
house to Gontram? He is certainly not a person that does things by
the book. Still, it is always good when you can have someone like
that from time to time. His tubercular wife naturally interests you
as a medical doctor. All the doctors in the city are enraptured by
this phenomenon without lungs. Then there’s the Princess that you
would gladly sell your castle in Mehlem to.
    Finally, dear uncle, there are the two
teenagers over there, beautiful, fresh vegetables aren’t they? I
know how you like young girls–Oh, in all honor, naturally. You are
always honorable Uncle Jakob!”
    He