Greifenstein

thoughts for a time into a more cheerful channel, and he was further reassured by the fact that his father's letter contained nothing that could alarm him. Everything was going on at Greifenstei

a shrivelled professor, his thoughts wandered and the vision of Hilda rose before his eyes, with the expression she had worn when she had spoken of that terrible catastrophe which was in store for him. He could not imagine why he should have thought of the matter so suddenly, nor why it seemed so much more important than before. It required a strong effort to concentrate his mind once more upon what he was doing, and when he succeeded, he was aware that the point of the professor's argument had escaped him. Mechanically he looked at his neighbour to see whether he had been making notes. The

said. 'I was absent-minded-

the other. 'I am very glad to

no colours, he could not refrain from continuing the conversation. The two

long in the Unive

Heidelberg. Permit me to introduce myself,' he a

n Greifenstein

t ha

fully trimmed, full and square. A soft and clear complexion, a little less than fair but very far from dark, showed at first sight that Rex rejoiced in perfect health. The straight nose was very classic in outline, the brow and forehead evenly developed, the modelling about the eyes and temples very smooth and delicate. But the eyes themselves destroyed at once the harmony of the whole face and gave it a very uncommon expression. This was due entirely to their colour and not at all to thei

branch I think

f, thinking of the lectu

astronomy and in some branches connected with tha

rnkitzler,' answere

ill discover it. If not, he will explain the reason why there is nothing. He is a great man. He knows what nothing is,

no talent for mathematics,' answered Greif. '

it can be call

s that, if

after it ceases to be an

' said Greif who was s

study is only an insignificant preparation. If you call it a study an

very amusing,' said

air shirt of the nineteenth century. A man who does his duty is just as uncomfortable

after

e when you and I are buried, and the next generation are writhing in hair shirts of t

om you,' ans

e?' 'Not unless you choose. I am not in search of a row this morning. I diffe

y contrary to all i

e with it. Political ethics are a science, and duty is necessary to the system that science has cr

make the smallest difference to us, what b

condition of our ch

es you or me to become the father

nquired Greif, more and more surprised at hi

hing when it has cease

not

s imperishable, because it is immaterial. The innumerable milliards of vortices in which the material of your body moves at such an amazing rate will not stand still when you are dead, nor even when every visible atom of

mused Greif. 'And w

wered Rex

rprise, 'you believe in a future life, in the impor

opinion, its duties are ultimately considerations of taste. What are opinions, conveniences and tastes, compared with realities? The vortex is a fact, and

y, I can assure you. Neither the vortex nor any other fact ever prevents any man from doing what is individually agre

man, if the questio

h artificial assistance. Real originality should show itself in surpassing your felicity without making use of your laborious methods in attaining to it. The trouble is that your political ethics, your recipes for making bliss in wholesale quantities, take no account of exceptional people. But why should we discuss the matter? What is happiness? Millions of volumes have been written about it, a

is beautiful face, upon Greif's eyes. He saw there an uncertai

nger man in a doubtful

'Perhaps my simple plan may help you. Interrogate yourself. What

d t

' answered Rex with a careless smile,

Greif in a grave tone. 'I w

oman e

hing you could not take if it

material. I want t

y hard thing,' answered R

litely, as he noticed the action. He ha

n. I fear I have kept y

greatest pleasure to meet you,' a

te upon my side,' returned

hought about him and was not satisfied with his short interview. The man's remark about the future was either that of a visionary, or of an absent-minded person who did not always know what he was saying. Greif himself could hardly understand how he had been led, in a first meeting with one who was altogether a stranger, to

ia. After the meal was over, Greif went to his lodgings and tried to work. The sudden anxiety that had seized him in the morning during the lecture grew stronger in solitude, until it was almost unbearable. He pushed aside his books and wrote to his father, inquir

. Rex was not among them. He had said that he considered philosophy an amusement, and he probably came to the hall where it was taught when the fa

ed him of the sighing of the trees at home, on that last morning when he had sat with Hilda at the foot of the Hunger-Thurm. At such a time anything which recalled the circumstances of the vacation necessarily brought with it an increase in his anxiety. Greif thought of the evening that was before him if he joined his comrades at their usual place of meeting, and the prospect was distasteful. He would be glad to escape from th

another. At the top there was but one door. He knocked twice and waited. There was no answer, and he knocked again. He was sure that he could hear some one moving inside the apartme

ry voice. 'And why are you

ein,' replied Greif, 'and

or opened quickly and he found himself face to face with Rex himself. His expressio

y unlike those Greif had just heard. 'I h

eif, hesitating as though he had forgotten the

Greif had entered. 'You see I am a newcomer and have no friends here,' he

e was a great heap of others upon the floor in the corner. Two large easy-chairs stood on opposite sides of the porcelain stove, which at that season was of course not in use. A broad table in the centre was covered with books, many of them new, and papers covered with notes or figures were strewn amongst them in the greatest disorder. Ne

e of the arm-chairs and then seating himself in the other. 'It

e, was a new experience, and Rex's stony blue eyes seemed to ask the object of his coming. It was ev

wering a direct question, 'I have been t

have never received before,' replied Rex, bendin

ed to know the future. You answered that it must be easy to get my wish. Were

lf that your acquaintance was either a foo

ionary or absent-minded,' he admitted. 'Yes, I

unless you suspected tha

not occu

nd it is of no importance whether it does or not. My reply will contribute to your peace of mind by helping you to catalogue a man you d

ose,' answered Grei

ay to join other vortices in the dance of death. The vortices do nothing but dance, spin and whirl for ever through

med Greif moodily. 'I wis

Rex contemptuously.

if watched him with considerable indifference. He had not found what he had sought and he already meditated a retreat. R

ate of the day we met?

ed Greif, wondering what

I have a cale

down certain signs and figures in various parts of the divided circle. When he had finished he lo

arked, as he resumed his seat in the easy-chai

ed?' inquired Greif, wi

o belong to you,' replied Rex. 'I suppose you know it,

t at the thought that this chance student perhaps knew of Rie

to tell me what you know of me and my famil

knew of your existence until I met you the other day, and

ll you,' said Greif, not yet certain whether to feel relief

ll you what

nature of t

of it?' inquired Rex, scru

ly connected. Let me know the caus

knee, and folded his hands,

ered, you will certainly believe that I knew it all before, and that I am acting a comedy. You must eit

ously asked a question. To promise with the intention of keeping his word was impossibl

. You will not give your word in such a case, because you must break it. You are quite right. You are full of curiosity to learn how much

reif anxiously, putting out

I have a strong dislike to fighting at my age. Moreover, you asked me the question which led to all this. Even if I answer it, am I bound to explain the reasons for my reply? I believe the code of honour does not require that, and if there is nothing offensive

vering how much his companion knew, and if this submission to his own curiosity was little flattering to his pride, it was at l

u will tell me what you know, and I will express no opinion as to the

wered Rex. 'And I bind myse

your predictions? Will you tel

ortune through the return of an evil person-a relat

d an exclamation of something like anger rose to his

in a voice which showed R

the mercy of the inevitable. You cannot retard by one day the catastrophe, any more than you can

ed Greif, who for a moment

on, and repeating it more than once

ably before Christmas. He is now at

ld guess so much!' exclaimed Gr

ion, I believe,' observed Rex, l

him?' asked Grei

y years of age. He is violent, unreliable, generally unfortunate, pro

rrupting him violently. 'I do not care a

id not desire to speak

that there was any compact

forget it either. You are a man of your word, Herr von Greifenst

my quarrelling with you

ossible. It is not ea

were to in

ions, and so far as any other cause of disagreement is concerned, I think you will find it hard to discover

ex's position, and would not stoop to force the situation by any brutal discourtesy. At the

he said at last

' answered Rex with a smile. 'Shall I tell

nswered Greif wi

ve news of that person to-day. You have

I should have news of him at all, beyond what you tell me.

inqui

dnight,' answered Greif with a laugh, in which

s a test of my veracity. Whether you stay here, or go home, or wander ou

dy knows

th me, or will you go home? It makes no difference, excepting

eif. There was a loud kn

ed Rex imperturbably. 'Will you open th

ill open

de, and inquired if Herr von Gr

now where I wa

's office,' answered the fellow with a grin as he sig

om and tore open the envelope,

le has written his intention to

x and fell back in his chair ove

en returned to the study of his fi