Hanns Heinz Ewers Alraune by Joe Bandel

continued, “I remain dutiful, your Excellency. There is just
one other thing I have to ask.”
    The commander gave him the telegram back.
“What?” he asked.
    Frank Braun burst out, “I have no travel
money. May I ask your Excellency to loan me three hundred
Marks.”
    The general looked suspiciously at him. “No
money–Hmm–so no money either–But wasn’t yesterday the first? Didn’t
your money come?”
    “My money came promptly, your Excellency,” he
replied quickly. “But it was gone just as quickly that night!”
    The old commander laughed at that.
    “Yes, yes. That is how you atone for your
crimes, your misdeeds! So you need three hundred Marks?”
    “Yes, your Excellency! My uncle will
certainly be very happy to hear how you have helped me out of this
predicament, if I am permitted.”
    The general turned, went to the writing desk,
opened it and took out three little pieces of paper and a moneybox.
He gave the prisoner quill and paper and told him what to write
down on the receipt. Then he gave him the money. Frank Braun took
it with a light easy bow.
    “I remain dutiful, your Excellency.”
    “Think nothing of it,” said the commander.
“Go there and come back right away–Give my compliments to yours
truly, his Excellency.”
    “Once again I remain dutiful, your
Excellency.”
    One last bow and he was outside. He sprang
over the six front steps in one leap and had to restrain himself
not to shout out loud. That was great!
    He called a taxi to take him to the
Ehrenbreitstein train station. There he leafed through the
departure times and found he still had three hours to wait. He
called to the valet that was waiting with his suitcase and
commanded him to quickly run over to the “Red Cock” and bring back
the ensign from Plessen.
    “But bring the right one boy!” he said
sharply. “The young gentleman that just got here not to long ago.
The one that wears No. six on his back. The one that–Wait, your
pennies have earned interest.”
    He threw him a ten Mark piece. Then he went
into the wine house, considered carefully, ordered a select supper
and sat at the window looking out at the Sunday citizens as they
wandered along the Rhine.
    Finally the ensign came. “What’s up now?”
    “Sit down,” said Frank Braun. “Shut up. Don’t
ask. Eat, drink and be merry!”
    He gave him a hundred Mark bill. Pay my bill
with this. You can keep the rest–and tell them up there that I’ve
gone to Berlin–with a pass! I want the Sergeant-major to know that
I will be back before the end of the week.”
    The blonde ensign stared at him in outright
admiration, “Just tell me–how did you do it?”
    “My secret, “ said Frank Braun. “But it
wouldn’t do you any good if I did tell you. His Excellency will
only be good-natured enough to fall for it once. Prosit!”
    The ensign brought him to the train and
handed his suitcase up to him. Then he waved his hat and
handkerchief.
    Frank Braun stepped back from the window and
forgot in that same instant the little ensign, his co-prisoners and
the fortress. He spoke with the conductor, stretched out
comfortably in his sleeper, closed his eyes and went to sleep. The
conductor had to shake him very hard to wake him up.
    “Where are we?” he asked drowsily.
    “Almost to Friedrichstrasse station.”
    He gathered his things together, climbed out
and went to the hotel. He got a room, bathed, changed clothes and
then went down for breakfast. He ran into Dr. Petersen at the
door.
    “Oh there you are dear Doctor! His Excellency
will be overjoyed!”
    His Excellency! Again his Excellency! It
sounded wrong to his ears.
    “How is my uncle?” he asked. “Better?”
    “Better?” repeated the doctor. “What do you
mean better? His Excellency has not been sick!”
    “Is that so,” said Frank Braun. “Not sick!
That’s too bad. I thought uncle was on his deathbed.”
    Dr. Petersen looked at him very bewildered.
“I don’t understand at all–”
    He