Papa Lindeberg, says Joey, came out of the corner far more gloomy than he went in; he seemed like a man urged on unwillingly from behind, a man reluctant to advance, and yet afraid or unable to go back. 'I beg to speak with you,' he said to Joey, with much military stiffness about his back and heels. 'Now wasn't I right?' I interrupted triumphantly. 'Poor old beggar,' said Joey, 'he looked frightfully sick.' 'And didn't you?' 'No,' said Joey grinning. 'Most young men would have.' 'But not this one. This one went off with him trippin' on the points of his toes, he felt so fit.' 'Well, what happened then?' 'Oh, I don't know. He said a lot of things. I couldn't understand 'em, and I don't think he could either, but he was very game and stuck to it once he'd begun, and went on makin' my head spin and I daresay his own too. Long and short of it was that in this precious Fatherland of yours the Vickis don't accept valuables except from those about to become their husbands.' 'I should say that the Vickis in your own or any other respectable Fatherland didn't either,' said I. 'Well, I'm not arguin', am I?' 'Well, go on.' 'Well, it seemed pretty queer to think I was about to become a husband, but there was nothin' for it--the little girl, you see, couldn't be done out of her necklace just because of that.' 'I see,' said I, trying to. 'On Christmas Day too--day of rejoicin' and that, eh?' 'Quite so,' said I. 'So I said I was his man.' 'And did he understand?' 'No. He kept on sayin' 'What?' and evidently cursin' the English language in German. Then I suggested that Vicki should be called in to interpret. He understood that, for I waved my arms about till he did, but he said her mother interpreted better, and he would call her instead. I understood that, and said 'Get out.' He didn't understand that, and while he was tryin' to I went and told his wife that he'd sent for Vicki. Vicki came, and we got on first rate. First thing I did was to pull out the necklace and put it round her neck. 'Pretty as paint, ain't she?' I said to the old man. He didn't understand that either, but Vicki did and laughed. 'You give her to me and I give the necklace to her, see?' I said, shoutin', for I felt if I shouted loud enough he wouldn't be able to help understandin', however naturally German he was. 'Tell him how simple it is,' I said to Vicki. Vicki was very red but awfully cheerful, and laughed all the time. She explained, I suppose, for he went out to call his wife. Vicki and I stayed behind, and--' 'Well?' 'Oh well, we waited.' 'And what did Frau von Lindeberg say?'