Coulditbesomethingofthatnature？Apart，however，fromtheutterimprobabilitythathewouldoffertotalkofiteventohisfutureuncle—
in—law，IhadastrangefeelingthatFalk’sphysiqueunfittedhimforthatsortofdelinquency。AsthepersonofHermann’snieceexhaledtheprofoundphysicalcharmoffeminineform，soherador—
er’sbigframeembodiedtomysensesthehard，straightmasculinitythatwouldconceivablykillbutwouldnotcondescendtocheat。Thethingwasobvious。Imightjustaswellhavesuspectedthegirlofacurvatureofthespine。AndIper—
ceivedthatthesunwasabouttoset。
ThesmokeofFalk’stughoveinsight，farawayatthemouthoftheriver。Itwastimeformetoassumethecharacterofanambassador，andthenegotiationwouldnotbedifficultexceptinthematterofkeepingmycountenance。Itwasalltooextravagantlynonsensical，andIconceivedthatitwouldbebesttocomposeformyselfagravede—