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〃Why； Max！ Stop； Max！〃 And out they came pell…mell；
His old companions。 〃Max； where have you been？
Not drink with us？ Indeed you serve us well！
How many months is it since we have seen
You here？ Jan； Jan； you slow； old doddering goat！
Here's Mynheer Breuck come back again at last；
Stir your old bones to welcome him。 Fie； Max。
Business！ And after hours！ Fill your throat；
Here's beer or brandy。 Now； boys； hold him fast。
Put down your cane； dear man。 What really vicious whacks！〃
50
They forced him to a seat； and held him there；
Despite his anger； while the hideous joke
Was tossed from hand to hand。 Franz poured with care
A brimming glass of whiskey。 〃Here； we've broke
Into a virgin barrel for you； drink！
Tut！ Tut！ Just hear him！ Married！ Who； and when？
Married； and out on business。 Clever Spark！
Which lie's the likeliest？ Come； Max； do think。〃
Swollen with fury； struggling with these men；
Max cursed hilarity which must needs have a mark。
51
Forcing himself to steadiness； he tried
To quell the uproar； told them what he dared
Of his own life and circumstance。 Implied
Most urgent matters； time could ill be spared。
In jesting mood his comrades heard his tale；
And scoffed at it。 He felt his anger more
Goaded and bursting； 〃Cowards！ Is no one loth
To mock at duty 〃 Here they called for ale；
And forced a pipe upon him。 With an oath
He shivered it to fragments on the earthen floor。
52
Sobered a little by his violence；
And by the host who begged them to be still；
Nor injure his good name； 〃Max； no offence；〃
They blurted； 〃you may leave now if you will。〃
〃One moment； Max；〃 said Franz。 〃We've gone too far。
I ask your pardon for our foolish joke。
It started in a wager ere you came。
The talk somehow had fall'n on drugs； a jar
I brought from China； herbs the natives smoke；
Was with me； and I thought merely to play a game。
53
Its properties are to induce a sleep
Fraught with adventure； and the flight of time
Is inconceivable in swiftness。 Deep
Sunken in slumber； imageries sublime
Flatter the senses； or some fearful dream
Holds them enmeshed。 Years pass which on the clock
Are but so many seconds。 We agreed
That the next man who came should prove the scheme；
And you were he。 Jan handed you the crock。
Two whiffs！ And then the pipe was broke； and you were freed。〃
54
〃It is a lie； a damned； infernal lie！〃
Max Breuck was maddened now。 〃Another jest
Of your befuddled wits。 I know not why
I am to be your butt。 At my request
You'll choose among you one who'll answer for
Your most unseasonable mirth。 Good…night
And good…by； gentlemen。 You'll hear from me。〃
But Franz had caught him at the very door；
〃It is no lie； Max Breuck； and for your plight
I am to blame。 Come back； and we'll talk quietly。
55
You have no business； that is why we laughed；
Since you had none a few minutes ago。
As to your wedding； naturally we chaffed；
Knowing the length of time it takes to do
A simple thing like that in this slow world。
Indeed； Max； 'twas a dream。 Forgive me then。
I'll burn the drug if you prefer。〃 But Breuck
Muttered and stared； 〃A lie。〃 And then he hurled；
Distraught； this word at Franz： 〃Prove it。 And when
It's proven； I'll believe。 That thing shall be your work。
56
I'll give you just one week to make your case。
On August thirty…first； eighteen…fourteen；
I shall require your proof。〃 With wondering face
Franz cried； 〃A week to August； and fourteen
The year！ You're mad； 'tis April now。
April； and eighteen…twelve。〃 Max staggered； caught
A chair； 〃April two years ago！ Indeed；
Or you； or I； are mad。 I know not how
Either could blunder so。〃 Hilverdink brought
〃The Amsterdam Gazette〃； and Max was forced to read。
57
〃Eighteen hundred and twelve；〃 in largest print；
And next to it； 〃April the twenty…first。〃
The letters smeared and jumbled； but by dint
Of straining every nerve to meet the worst；
He read it； and into his pounding brain
Tumbled a horror。 Like a roaring sea
Foreboding shipwreck； came the message plain：
〃This is two years ago！ What of Christine？〃
He fled the cellar； in his agony
Running to outstrip Fate； and save his holy shrine。
58
The darkened buildings echoed to his feet
Clap…clapping on the pavement as he ran。
Across moon…misted squares clamoured his fleet
And terror…winged steps。 His heart began
To labour at the speed。 And still no sign；
No flutter of a leaf against the sky。
And this should be the garden wall； and round
The corner； the old gate。 No even line
Was this！ No wall！ And then a fearful cry
Shattered the stillness。 Two stiff houses filled the ground。
59
Shoulder to shoulder； like dragoons in line；
They stood； and Max knew them to be the ones
To right and left of Kurler's garden。 Spine
Rigid next frozen spine。 No mellow tones
Of ancient gilded iron； undulate；
Expanding in wide circles and broad curves；
The twisted iron of the garden gate；
Was there。 The houses touched and left no space
Between。 With glassy eyes and shaking nerves
Max gazed。 Then mad with fear； fled still； and left that place。
60
Stumbling and panting； on he ran； and on。
His slobbering lips could only cry； 〃Christine！
My Dearest Love！ My Wife！ Where are you gone？
What future is our past？ What saturnine；
Sardonic devil's jest has bid us live
Two years together in a puff of smoke？
It was no dream； I swear it！ In some star；
Or still imprisoned in Time's egg； you give
Me love。 I feel it。 Dearest Dear； this stroke
Shall never part us； I will reach to where you are。〃
61
His burning eyeballs stared into the dark。
The moon had long been set。 And still he cried：
〃Christine！ My Love！ Christine！〃 A sudden spark
Pricked through the gloom； and shortly Max espied
With his uncertain vision； so within
Distracted he could scarcely trust its truth；
A latticed window where a crimson gleam
Spangled the blackness； and hung from a pin；
An iron crane； were three gilt balls。 His youth
Had taught their meaning； now they closed upon his dream。
62
Softly he knocked against the casement； wide
It flew； and a cracked voice his business there
Demanded。 The door opened； and inside
Max stepped。 He saw a candle held in air
Above the head of a gray…bearded Jew。
〃Simeon Isaacs； Mynheer； can I serve
You？〃 〃Yes； I think you can。 Do you keep arms？
I want a pistol。〃 Quick the old man grew
Livid。 〃Mynheer； a pistol！ Let me swerve
You from your purpose。 Life brings often false alarms 〃
63
〃Peace； good old Isaacs； why should you suppose
My purpose deadly。 In good truth I've been
Blest above others。 You have many rows
Of pistols it would seem。 Here； this shagre