Night Games: And Other Stories and Novellas Read Online Free PDF

mutual lady friend?" it was clear that the
consul could not be gotten the better of with jokes and taunts. This impression was substantiated by a remark he once made to Greising, who
late one evening, after two glasses of cognac, had allowed himself an offensive remark about consuls of unknown countries. With a piercing look
he had said, "Why are you taunting me, Herr Lieutenant? Have you already inquired as to whether I am of sufficient rank to give you satisfaction in a duel?"
    A long, contemplative silence had followed this speech, but, as if by
tacit agreement, no further consequences were drawn from this statement, and it was decided, without any explicit discussion, but unanimously, that the consul should be treated more gingerly.
    The consul lost. No one objected when, against his usual custom, he
immediately put down a new bank, and, after losing that one as well, still
another. The other players won, especially Willi. He put his original capital, the one hundred and twenty gulden, back into his pocket-nothing
would induce him to risk those again. Then he put down a bank himself.
Soon he had doubled it. He withdrew, and with a few minor exceptions, his luck held out against the other bankers, who changed in quick succession. Soon he had already exceeded by a few hundred the thousand
gulden he had set out to win-for someone else-and since Elrief now
rose to go back to the theatre to rehearse a role-about which he would
say nothing despite Greising's ironically expressed interest-Willi used
the opportunity to leave with him. The others were soon deep in their
game again, and when Willi turned around to look at them once more at
the door, he saw that only the consul's eyes had left the cards to follow
him with a quick, cold glance.

    IV
    Only now, as he once more stood outdoors with the soft evening air caressing his brow, did Willi fully realize the extent of his good luck, or
rather, as he immediately corrected himself, of Bogner's good luck. Still,
there was enough left over for him to buy himself a new cape, a new cap,
and a new sword belt, just as he had dreamed. And even after that, there
was still enough for a few suppers in some pleasant company, which he
could easily attract now. Aside from all that-how satisfying to be able
to give his old comrade the sum that would save him, tomorrow morning
at half past seven in front of Alser Church!-he actually had a thousand
gulden; yes, the celebrated thousand-gulden bill which he had only read
about in books was in his wallet along with a few hundred-gulden bills.
Well, my dear Bogner, here you are. A thousand gulden exactly. I've won
them. To be more precise, I've won one thousand and one hundred and
twenty-five. Then I stopped. Self-control, right? And I hope, my dear
Bogner, from now on you'll also ... No, no, he couldn't permit himself
to preach a moral lesson to his former comrade. Bogner would get the
point on his own, and one hoped he would be tactful enough not to feel
that this windfall entitled him to enter into a closer relationship with
Willi. Maybe it would be better after all, and more correct even, to send
his orderly to Alser Church with the money.
    On his way to the Kessners, Willi wondered whether they would
ask him to stay for the evening meal as well. Well, fortunately the meal
itself was no longer important to him! After all, he himself was now rich enough to invite the whole company to dinner! Too bad there was no
place to buy flowers. But as he passed an open pastry shop, he decided to
buy a box of chocolates; then, turning back again as he reached the door,
he bought another, even larger one, and pondered how properly to divide
them between mother and daughter.

    When he entered the front garden of the Kessners' estate, a housemaid met him with the information that the Kessners had driven to the
Helene Valley with everyone, probably to the Krainer Lodge. The Kessners would no doubt also have dinner out, as