“I slipped a pistol into my pocket to be ready for everything; a little pistol which was not worth a curse, with an old-fashioned lock--a thing I had used when I was a boy, and which was really fit for nothing. I loaded it, however, because I thought they would try to kick me out, and that the German would insult me, in which case I would pull out my pistol to frighten them all. I arrived. There was no one on the staircase; they were all in the work-room. No servant. The one girl who waited upon them was absent. I crossed the shop and saw that the door was closed--an old door fastened from the inside. My heart beat; I stopped and listened. They were speaking German. I broke open the door with a kick. I looked round. The table was laid; there was a large coffee-pot on it, with a spirit lamp underneath, and a plate of biscuits. On a tray there was a small decanter of brandy, herrings, sausages, and a bottle of some wine. Luisa and her aunt, both in their Sunday best, were seated on a sofa. Opposite them, the German was exhibiting himself on a chair, got up like a bridegroom, and in his coat with the high collar, and with his hair carefully combed. On the other side, there was another German, old, fat, and gray. He was taking no part in the conversation. When I entered, Luisa turned very pale. The aunt sprang up with a bound and sat down again. The German became angry. What a rage he was in! He got up, and walking towards me, said: “‘What do you want?’ “I should have lost my self-possession if anger had not supported me. “‘What do I want? Is this the way to receive a guest? Why do you not offer him something to drink? I have come to pay you a visit.’ “The German reflected a moment, and then said, ‘Sit down.’ “I sat down. “‘Here is some vodka. Help yourself, I beg.’ “‘And let it be good,’ I cried, getting more and more into a rage. “‘It is good.’ “I was enraged to see him looking at me from top to toe. The most frightful part of it was, that Luisa was looking on. I took a drink and said to him: “‘Look here, German, what business have you to speak rudely to me? Let us be better acquainted. I have come to see you as friends.’ “‘I cannot be your friend,’ he replied. ‘You are a private soldier.’ “Then I lost all self-command. “‘Oh, you German! You sausage-seller! You know how much you are in my power. Look here; do you wish me to break your head with this pistol?’ “I drew out my pistol, got up, and struck him on the forehead. The women were more dead than alive; they were afraid to breathe. The eldest of the two men, quite white, was trembling like a leaf. “The German seemed much astonished. But he soon recovered himself. “‘I am not afraid of you,’ he said, ‘and I beg of you, as a well-bred man, to put an end to this pleasantry. I am not afraid of you!’ “‘You are afraid! You dare not move while this pistol is presented at you.’ “‘You dare not do such a thing!’ he cried. “‘And why should I not dare?’