Herr Klueber began with introducing himself; as he
did so, he bowed with such loftiness, moved his legs
with such an agreeable air, and drew his heels together
with such polished courtesy that no one could fail
to feel, ’that man has both linen and moral principles
of the first quality!’ The finish of his bare
right hand—(the left, in a suede glove,
held a hat shining like a looking-glass, with the right
glove placed within it)—the finish of the
right hand, proffered modestly but resolutely to Sanin,
surpassed all belief; each finger-nail was a perfection
in its own way! Then he proceeded to explain
in the choicest German that he was anxious to express
his respect and his indebtedness to the foreign gentleman
who had performed so signal a service to his future
kinsman, the brother of his betrothed; as he spoke,
he waved his left hand with the hat in it in the direction
of Emil, who seemed bashful and turning away to the
window, put his finger in his mouth. Herr Klueber
added that he should esteem himself happy should he
be able in return to do anything for the foreign gentleman.
Sanin, with some difficulty, replied, also in German,
that he was delighted ... that the service was not
worth speaking of ... and he begged his guests to
sit down. Herr Klueber thanked him, and lifting
his coat-tails, sat down on a chair; but he perched
there so lightly and with such a transitory air that
no one could fail to realise, ’this man is sitting
down from politeness, and will fly up again in an
instant.’ And he did in fact fly up again
quickly, and advancing with two discreet little dance-steps,
he announced that to his regret he was unable to stay
any longer, as he had to hasten to his shop—business
before everything! but as the next day was Sunday,
he had, with the consent of Frau Lenore and Fraeulein
Gemma, arranged a holiday excursion to Soden, to which
he had the honour of inviting the foreign gentleman,
and he cherished the hope that he would not refuse
to grace the party with his presence. Sanin did
not refuse so to grace it; and Herr Klueber repeating
once more his complimentary sentiments, took leave,
his pea-green trousers making a spot of cheerful colour,
and his brand-new boots squeaking cheerfully as he
moved.
IX
Emil, who had continued to stand with his face to
the window, even after Sanin’s invitation to
him to sit down, turned round directly his future
kinsman had gone out, and with a childish pout and
blush, asked Sanin if he might remain a little while
with him. ’I am much better to-day,’
he added, ‘but the doctor has forbidden me to
do any work.’
‘Stay by all means! You won’t be
in the least in my way,’ Sanin cried at once.
Like every true Russian he was glad to clutch at any
excuse that saved him from the necessity of doing
anything himself.
Copyrights
The Torrents of Spring from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
