I found her apartment furnished
in the typical German fashion. There were two heavy mirrors, a plush
tablecloth, and chairs covered with stamped velvet. A canary was singing
in a cage fashioned like a church, a model of a German village stood
proudly upon the sideboard. One end of the room was hung with thick
curtains. Madame herself had arranged her hair with a heavy black fringe,
and pinned an enormous blue bow at the back of her neck.
"We will sit together here," she said, indicating the sofa, "and we will
talk of England. But first you shall open the beer."
There were several bottles upon the sideboard, and a corkscrew. I poured
Madame out a glass and then one for myself. Madame was already making
room for me by her side, when an inspiration came to me.
"You will drink a health with me?" I asked.
She raised her glass. I assumed a profoundly sentimental air.
"It is to a little girl in Frankfort," I said sighing. "To meine liebe
Elsie! Soon I shall return to marry her!"
Madame raised her glass.
"To Elsie!" she repeated, and drank very nearly the whole of its
contents.
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