entrance had caused a small sensation, as much for the clothes that she wore as for the face with its striking beauty, which outshone even her clothes.
You look ravishing, Frau Gotthard. Like a snow princess. The compliment came from the man she had just met, some banker or other. Walmar had greeted him with a curt, friendly nod and quick assent when he had asked his permission to escort Kassandra to the floor. They were waltzing slowly as Kassandra watched Walmar chat with some friends.
Thank you. I take it you know my husband?
Only slightly. We have had the pleasure of doing business once or twice. But my ' activities have been a little less commercial in nature during the past year.
Ah? Enjoying a sabbatical? Kassandra smiled pleasantly as they waltzed.
Not at all. My efforts have been engaged in assisting our leader in establishing the finances of the Third Reich. He said it with such force that Kassandra was startled and looked into his eyes.
I see. That must keep you busy.
Decidedly so. And you?
My children and my husband keep me busy most of the time.
And the rest of the time?
I beg your pardon? Kassandra felt herself growing uncomfortable in this bold stranger's arms.
I understand that you're something of a patron of the arts.
Really? Kassandra found herself praying for the dance to end.
Indeed. , He smiled pleasantly at her, but there was a glint of something chilling lurking in his eyes. I wouldn't waste a great deal of my time on that though. You see, our concept of the arts is going to change greatly with the assistance of the Third Reich.
Is it? For a moment she felt faint. Was this man warning her about Dolff? Or was she growing as crazy as he was, fearing threats at every turn.
Yes, it is. You see, we've had such ' such inadequate artists, such sick minds holding the pen. Then it was Dolff he meant All of that will have to change.
But suddenly she was angry. Perhaps it already has. They don't seem to be publishing the same people anymore, do they? Oh, God, what was she doing? What would Walmar say if he could hear? But the dance was coming to an end. She was about to be free of this evil stranger. But now she wanted to say more.
Don't worry about all of this nonsense, Frau Gotthard.
I wasn't planning to.
That's encouraging to hear. What was? What did he mean? But he was leading her back to Walmar now. It was all over. And she didn't see the man again that night. On the way home she wanted to tell Walmar, but she was afraid of making him angry or worse, afraid. And the next day Dolff was back in such good spirits that she didn't tell him what had happened either. And after all, what did it mean? Some moron banker who was in love with Hitler and the Third Reich? So what?
Dolff had come to a decision. He was going to write whether they published him or not. And he was going to go on trying to publish. But if he starved to death, he was going to stay. No one was going to drive him out of his homeland. He had a right to be there, and to prosper, even if he was a Jew.
Can I interest you in a walk near the castle? She smiled at him. It would be the first time they had gone out for a walk in two weeks.
I'd love that.
They walked for almost two hours, near the schloss and next to the lake, watching the few children who had come to play there, and smiling at other strollers passing by. It felt at long last like their first winter, when they had met by chance there time and time again, anxiously seeking each other, yet afraid of what might lie ahead.
Do you know what I used to think when I looked for you here? He was smiling down at her, his hand tightly clasping hers as they walked.
What?
I used to think that you were the most elusive, mysterious woman I had ever known, and if I could only spend one day with you,? d be happy for the rest of my life.
And now? Are you happy? She drew closer to him, her short fur jacket a ball of fluff over a long tweed skirt and dark brown suede shoes.
I've never
You look ravishing, Frau Gotthard. Like a snow princess. The compliment came from the man she had just met, some banker or other. Walmar had greeted him with a curt, friendly nod and quick assent when he had asked his permission to escort Kassandra to the floor. They were waltzing slowly as Kassandra watched Walmar chat with some friends.
Thank you. I take it you know my husband?
Only slightly. We have had the pleasure of doing business once or twice. But my ' activities have been a little less commercial in nature during the past year.
Ah? Enjoying a sabbatical? Kassandra smiled pleasantly as they waltzed.
Not at all. My efforts have been engaged in assisting our leader in establishing the finances of the Third Reich. He said it with such force that Kassandra was startled and looked into his eyes.
I see. That must keep you busy.
Decidedly so. And you?
My children and my husband keep me busy most of the time.
And the rest of the time?
I beg your pardon? Kassandra felt herself growing uncomfortable in this bold stranger's arms.
I understand that you're something of a patron of the arts.
Really? Kassandra found herself praying for the dance to end.
Indeed. , He smiled pleasantly at her, but there was a glint of something chilling lurking in his eyes. I wouldn't waste a great deal of my time on that though. You see, our concept of the arts is going to change greatly with the assistance of the Third Reich.
Is it? For a moment she felt faint. Was this man warning her about Dolff? Or was she growing as crazy as he was, fearing threats at every turn.
Yes, it is. You see, we've had such ' such inadequate artists, such sick minds holding the pen. Then it was Dolff he meant All of that will have to change.
But suddenly she was angry. Perhaps it already has. They don't seem to be publishing the same people anymore, do they? Oh, God, what was she doing? What would Walmar say if he could hear? But the dance was coming to an end. She was about to be free of this evil stranger. But now she wanted to say more.
Don't worry about all of this nonsense, Frau Gotthard.
I wasn't planning to.
That's encouraging to hear. What was? What did he mean? But he was leading her back to Walmar now. It was all over. And she didn't see the man again that night. On the way home she wanted to tell Walmar, but she was afraid of making him angry or worse, afraid. And the next day Dolff was back in such good spirits that she didn't tell him what had happened either. And after all, what did it mean? Some moron banker who was in love with Hitler and the Third Reich? So what?
Dolff had come to a decision. He was going to write whether they published him or not. And he was going to go on trying to publish. But if he starved to death, he was going to stay. No one was going to drive him out of his homeland. He had a right to be there, and to prosper, even if he was a Jew.
Can I interest you in a walk near the castle? She smiled at him. It would be the first time they had gone out for a walk in two weeks.
I'd love that.
They walked for almost two hours, near the schloss and next to the lake, watching the few children who had come to play there, and smiling at other strollers passing by. It felt at long last like their first winter, when they had met by chance there time and time again, anxiously seeking each other, yet afraid of what might lie ahead.
Do you know what I used to think when I looked for you here? He was smiling down at her, his hand tightly clasping hers as they walked.
What?
I used to think that you were the most elusive, mysterious woman I had ever known, and if I could only spend one day with you,? d be happy for the rest of my life.
And now? Are you happy? She drew closer to him, her short fur jacket a ball of fluff over a long tweed skirt and dark brown suede shoes.
I've never
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