Part 31 (2/2)
”The incident is most unfortunate,” said the Captain, evidently a little nettled, ”but I think this rude force unnecessary. I know Katrina well, but I did not know she had previously known Herr von Armstadt. This being the case, and he seeming not to wish to renew the acquaintance, I suggest that she leave of her own accord.”
But Katrina was not to be so easily dismissed. ”No,” she retorted, ”I will not leave until this man tells me how he came by that identification folder and what became of the man I loved, whom he now represents himself to be.”
At these words the guard, who had been about to leave, turned back.
I glanced apprehensively at Grauble who, seeing that I was grievously wrought up over the affair, said quietly to the officer, ”You had best take her away.”
Katrina, with a black look of hatred at Grauble, went without further words, and the curious crowd quickly melted away. The three of us who remained at the table resumed our seats and I ordered dinner.
”My, how Katrina frightened me!” exclaimed the fragile Elsa.
”She does have temper,” admitted Grauble. ”Odd, though, that she would conceive that idea that you were some one else. I have heard of all sorts of plans of revenge for disappointments in love, but that is a new one.”
”You really know her?” questioned Elsa, turning her pale eyes upon me.
”Oh, yes, I once knew her,” I replied, trying to seem unconcerned; ”but I did not recognize her at first.”
”You mean you didn't care to,” smiled Grauble. ”Once a man had known that woman he would hardly forget her.”
”But you must have had a very emotional affair with her,” said Elsa, ”to make her take on like that. Do tell us about it.”
”I would rather not; there are some things one wishes to forget.”
Grauble chided his dainty companion for her prying curiosity and tried to turn the conversation into less personal channels. But Elsa's appet.i.te for romance had been whetted and she kept reverting to the subject while I worried along trying to dismiss the matter. But the ending of the affair was not to be left in my hands; as we were sitting about our empty cups, we saw Katrina re-enter the cafe in company with a high official of the level and the guard who had taken her away.
”I am sorry to disturb you,” said the official, addressing me courteously, ”but this girl is very insistent in her accusation, and perhaps, if you will aid us in the matter, it may prevent her making further charges that might annoy you.”
”And what do you wish me to do?”
”I suggest only that you should come to my office. I have telephoned to have the records looked up and that should satisfy all and so end the matter.”
”You might come also,” added the official, turning to Grauble, but he waved back the curious Elsa who was eager to follow.
When we reached his office in the Place of Records, the official who had brought us thither turned to a man at a desk. ”You have received the data on missing men?” he inquired.
The other handed him a sheet of paper.
The official turned to Katrina. ”Will you state again, please, the time that you say the Karl Armstadt you knew disappeared?”
Katrina quite accurately named the date at which the man whose ident.i.ty I had a.s.sumed had been called to the potash mines.
”Very well,” said the official, taking up the sheet of paper, ”here we have the list of missing men for four years compiled from the weighers'
records. There is not recorded here the disappearance of a single chemist during the whole period. If another man than a chemist should try to step into a chemist's shoes, he would have a rather difficult time of it.” The official laughed as if he thought himself very clever.
”But that man is not Karl Armstadt,” cried Katrina in a wavering voice.
”Do you think I would not know him when every night for--”
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