She smiled graciously at me and called me back, when I
was about to withdraw respectfully.
"Come, Gregor, have your breakfast quickly too," she said, "then we
will go house-hunting. I don't want to stay in the hotel any longer
than I have to. It is very embarassing here. If I chat with you for
more than a minute, people will immediately say: 'The fair Russian
is having an affair with her servant, you see, the race of Catherines
isn't extinct yet.'"
Half an hour later we went out; Wanda was in her cloth-gown with the
Russian cap, and I in my Cracovian costume. We created quite a stir. I
walked about ten paces behind, looking very solemn, but expected
momentarily to have to break out into loud laughter. There was
scarcely a street in which one or the other of the attractive houses
did not bear the sign _camere ammobiliate_. Wanda always sent me
upstairs, and only when the apartment seemed to answer her
requirements did she herself ascend. By noon I was as tired as a stag-
hound after the hunt.
We entered a new house and left it again without having found a
suitable habitation. Wanda was already somewhat out of humor.
Suddenly she said to me: "Severin, the seriousness with which you
play your part is charming, and the restrictions, which we have
placed upon each other are really annoying me. I can't stand it any
longer, I do love you, I must kiss you.
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