"May I take the aero?"
"Oh yes, certainly, please!"
In the sunshine at the gate the old woman was dozing like a plant.
Again I was surprised to see her grown-together mouth open, and to
hear her say:
"And your lady, did she remain alone?"
"Alone."
The mouth of the old woman grew together again; she shook her head;
apparently even her weakening brain understood the stupidity and the
danger of the behaviour of that woman.
At seventeen o'clock exactly, I was at the lecture. There I suddenly
realized that I did not tell the whole truth to the old woman. I-330
was not there alone _now_. Possibly this fact, that I involuntarily
told the old woman a lie, was torturing me now and distracting my
attention. Yes, not alone,--that was the point.
After twenty-one-thirty o'clock I had a free hour. I could therefore
have gone to the office of the Guardians to make my report; but
after that stupid adventure I was so tired--besides, the law
provides two days. I shall have time tomorrow; I have another
twenty-four hours.