Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.
brought with it; spurred too, perhaps, by an after-dinner demon.  The cafe was the bier-halle of the ’Fifties, with a door at either end, and lighted by a large wooden lantern.  On a small dais three musicians were fiddling.  Solitary men, or groups, sat at some dozen tables, and the waiters hurried about replenishing glasses; the air was thick with smoke.  Swithin sat down.  “Wine!” he said sternly.  The astonished waiter brought him wine.  Swithin pointed to a beer glass on the table.  “Here!” he said, with the same ferocity.  The waiter poured out the wine.  ‘Ah!’ thought Swithin, ‘they can understand if they like.’  A group of officers close by were laughing; Swithin stared at them uneasily.  A hollow cough sounded almost in his ear.  To his left a man sat reading, with his elbows on the corners of a journal, and his gaunt shoulders raised almost to his eyes.  He had a thin, long nose, broadening suddenly at the nostrils; a black-brown beard, spread in a savage fan over his chest; what was visible of the face was the colour of old parchment.  A strange, wild, haughty-looking creature!  Swithin observed his clothes with some displeasure—­they were the clothes of a journalist or strolling actor.  And yet he was impressed.  This was singular.  How could he be impressed by a fellow in such clothes!  The man reached out a hand, covered with black hairs, and took up a tumbler that contained a dark-coloured fluid.  ‘Brandy!’ thought Swithin.  The crash of a falling chair startled him—­his neighbour had risen.  He was of immense height, and very thin; his great beard seemed to splash away from his mouth; he was glaring at the group of officers, and speaking.  Swithin made out two words:  “Hunde!  Deutsche Hunde!” ’Hounds!  Dutch hounds!’ he thought:  ‘Rather strong!’ One of the officers had jumped up, and now drew his sword.  The tall man swung his chair up, and brought it down with a thud.  Everybody round started up and closed on him.  The tall man cried out, “To me, Magyars!”

Swithin grinned.  The tall man fighting such odds excited his unwilling admiration; he had a momentary impulse to go to his assistance.  ’Only get a broken nose!’ he thought, and looked for a safe corner.  But at that moment a thrown lemon struck him on the jaw.  He jumped out of his chair and rushed at the officers.  The Hungarian, swinging his chair, threw him a look of gratitude—­Swithin glowed with momentary admiration of himself.  A sword blade grazed his—­arm; he felt a sudden dislike of the Hungarian.  ‘This is too much,’ he thought, and, catching up a chair, flung it at the wooden lantern.  There was a crash—­faces and swords vanished.  He struck a match, and by the light of it bolted for the door.  A second later he was in the street.

II

A voice said in English, “God bless you, brother!”

Swithin looked round, and saw the tall Hungarian holding out his hand.  He took it, thinking, ‘What a fool I’ve been!’ There was something in the Hungarian’s gesture which said, “You are worthy of me!”

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Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.