Три товарища

           ThenIwentouttogettherum.Thenightstoodbigandsilentaboutthelittlehouse.Theleatherseatsofourcarweremoist.Istoodandlookedtowardthehorizonwheretheredglowofthecityroseagainstthesky.Iwouldgladlyhavestayedoutthere;butalreadyIcouldhearLenzcalling.Bindingcouldnotcarrytherum.Afterthesecondglassonecouldseethat.Ashewentoutintothegardenherocked.IstoodupandwalkedwithLenzintothebar.Heaskedforabottleofgin.

           "Wonderfulgirl,eh?"saidhe.

           "Don’taskme,Gottfried,"Ireplied."Haven’tpaidthatmuchattention."

           Hegazedatmeawhilewithhisiris-blueeyesandthenshookhisgleaminghead."Whatdoyouliveforthen,baby,tellme?"

           "I’vebeenaskingmyselfthatalongtime,"Ianswered.Helaughed."You’dlikemetotellyou,Isuppose.WellIwon’trightoff,justlikethat.ButIthinkI’llgoandseeifIcan’tdigouthowthegirlstandswithFatty,theautocatalogue."

           HefollowedBindingoutintothegarden.Afterawhiletheybothcamebacktothebar.Theinformationmusthavebeengood,forGottfried,whonowapparentlysawtheroadclear,fromsheerpleasurejoinedupenthusiasticallywithBinding.Thetwogotafreshbottleofginandanhourlaterwerepattingeachotheronthebacklikeoldfriends.TherewasalwayssomethingcharmingaboutLenz,sothatitwasdifficulttoresisthimwhenhewasingoodhumour.Indeedatsuchtimeshecouldhardlyresisthimself.NowhesimplyoverflowedBinding,andsoonthetwoofthemwereoutinthearboursingingsoldiers’songs.Andinthemeantimethegirlhadentirelyforgottenthelastoftheromantics.