Hobohemians

65Ludmila’s father came up to take her away. Willy set out for Jank’s. His pupil was laying out a new evening dress. On the wall faithful representation of what Bela called ‘this Herr Doktor’s brutality.’ Willy admired, and Jank detailed exactitude of Hungarian observation. “Here he has caught the two poles of my nature. He saw that. The force with which the high brow shows there (baldness I call it, thought Willy) and thrust here of the chin. Opposing forces.”

66Ten minutes of German art criticism. Sitting on the bed Willy said: “Did you pay him anything?”

67Jank turned a shocked eye: “Bela never said a word. He wanted to do it, I am sure, as a friend. I wouldn’t like to suggest anything else. Of course I have given him some dinners and I am taking him this evening among my friends. Two came yesterday, but I haven’t asked them here. It is a little difficult with people like Heinke coming in. You could meet them of course. I will say you are a traveller, not my teacher. You will understand that people mixing with the embassies here. . . .”

68Willy put his feet on the ground: “I just thought I’d tell you that I can’t give you any more lessons free. I haven’t many paying pupils and my money is going.”

69Exasperation and disappointment shaded Jank’s eye. “Of course I will pay you something. You know my proposal was the exchange of languages. However . . .”

70As Willy was going, richer by a hundred francs, Jank on the stairway called: “How about those little French girls you were going to show me?”

71Putting his money in his breast pocket, Willy promised that if Jank was in the café to-morrow night he would fix him up, patting his pocket.

* * *

72Halted by traffic a moment on the island opposite the café nimbly Willy extracted seventy-five francs from his breast pocket, replacing five and stowing the rest safely in an inner pocket. Insured by this prudent dualism he entered the café. Halfway along the bar a Polish journalist tapped him: “Very horrible situation. Could you lend me fifty francs? Even five. . . .”

73Willy’s hands started into several of his pockets. “I have only five myself.” Darted into his breast pocket, showed a five franc note, anxiously tested the depths of the pocket. “No, not a sou [penny] more.”—Felt his trousers.—“Positively. Ask Viktor if you see him. I believe he’s got money, but keep it quiet.”

74Heinke and Viktor were in a corner. Willy told Viktor to be careful. There was a Pole on the borrowing look-out for him. Heinke said: “Viktor would see us all starve before he gave us a pfennig. He won’t stand even a coffee tonight.”—Viktor removed to another table.

75“He has a lot of money to-day,” said Heinke. “You wait. He’ll have to ask us to play billiards.” Willy casually remarked that Herr Doktor Jank was of opinion Heinke was a low sort. “Of course I don’t let him say much against you. You can rely on me.” Heinke showed all the contempt of a German painter for a German scholar.