I nodded.

“The new one over there in Lichterfelde I do not know, but the old one,

that I do know--yes--h’m--was even a cadet there in my time--yes--that

one I do know.”

This repetition of words gave me the feeling that he knew not only the

house, but probably many an event that had taken place in it.

“As you come from Alexander Square,” he continued, “there first comes

a court with trees. Now grass grows in the court; in my time it was

not so, for the drills took place there and the cadets went walking

there during the hours of recreation. After that comes the great main

building that encloses a square court, which is called the ‘Karreehof,’

and there, too, the cadets used to walk. Passing by from the outside,

you can’t see into the court.”

Short story classics (Foreign), Vol. 3, German · 第 13 / 35 题