"And I'll do it too; but it would be better if he didn't come at all and left my papa in the lurch." "Of course that would be better; but it's a pious wish, he'll take good care not to stay away." "I've thought of a plan, though it's rather a queer one to be sure. Couldn't you lead him into doing something foolish to-day or early to-morrow morning so that you'd both be sent to the guard-room for twenty-four or forty-eight hours?" "You're very kind to want to send me to the lock-up for a couple of days just to spare you a refusal. Won't you do it cheaper?" "It's necessary that you should share his suffering so that we may not have too much on our consciences. As for my refusal, I don't want it to come to the point where I shall have to say yes or no to the fellow; it's bad enough that he should talk about me in the barracks. I don't want him to get a step beyond that." "You're right, sweetheart! Nevertheless I think the rascal will have to be locked up alone; a scheme is beginning to dawn on me. But enough of that, it's a pity to waste our precious time and the golden moonlight. Doesn't it remind you of anything?" "What should it remind me of?" "Of the fact that we haven't seen each other for four weeks and that you can hardly expect to set foot ashore again to-night unkissed." "Oh, so you would like to kiss me?" "Yes, even I; but there's no hurry, I know you can't escape. I want to enjoy the anticipation a few minutes longer, perhaps five, or six at the most." "Oh, indeed! Is that the way you repay my confidence in you, and do you really care much about it? Wouldn't you consider a bargain?" "Not though you spoke with the eloquence of an angel, not for a minute! There's no way out of it for you to-night, my lady." "Then I will also make a declaration, my dear sir. If you so much as touch me with the tips of your fingers to-night against my will, it's all over between us and I will never see you again; I swear it by Heaven and my own honor. For I am in earnest." Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. "That will take care of itself," replied Karl, "I'm coming soon now, so keep still." "Do as you like," said Hermine curtly and was silent. But whether it was that he thought her capable of keeping her word, or whether he himself did not want her to break her vow, he stayed obediently in his seat and gazed at her with shining eyes, peering to see by the moonlight if the corners of her mouth were not twitching and she were not laughing at him. "Then I shall have to console myself with the past again and let my memories compensate me," he began after a brief silence; "who would believe that those stern and firmly closed lips knew how to kiss so sweetly years ago!" "You mean to begin on your shameless inventions again, do you? But let me tell you that I won't listen to such irritating nonsense any longer."