Free Night Games: And Other Stories and Novellas by Arthur Schnitzler

normally would not have noticed, now
assumed an almost painfully sharp clarity in his overalert gaze. The man
beside him in the carriage had almost vanished in his mind. Now he
looked at him again with a shy glance. The consul sat leaning back with
closed eyes, his hat in front of him on the blanket. How gentle, how kindhearted he looked! And he-was driving him to his death! Was he really
sleeping-or only pretending? Don't worry, Consul, I won't bother you
any more. You'll have your money Tuesday at twelve. Or maybe not! But
in no case ... The carriage stopped in front of the barrack gates, and the
consul awoke at once-or at least he pretended to have just awakened,
even going so far as to rub his eyes, a somewhat exaggerated gesture
after a two-and-a-half-minute nap. The guard at the gate saluted. Willi
leapt deftly from the carriage without touching the running board and
smiled at the consul. He even gave the coachman a tip, not too much, not
too little, like a cavalier to whom gaming losses or winnings meant nothing.

    "Thank you very much, Consul-until later."
    The consul reached out his hand toward Willi from the carriage and
pulled him a little closer, as if he wanted to say something that he didn't
want anyone else to hear.
    "I advise you, Lieutenant," he said in an almost fatherly tone,
"don't take this situation too lightly, if you place any value ... on remaining an officer. Tomorrow, Tuesday, at twelve o'clock." Then aloud,
"Well, until later, Lieutenant."
    Willi smiled politely and raised his hand to his cap, and the carriage
turned around and drove off.

    IX
    The Alser Church clock struck a quarter to five. The big gate swung open
and a company of the 98th, eyes right, marched past Willi. Willi gratefully raised his hand to his cap several times.
    "Where are you going, Wieseltier?" he offhandedly asked the last
cadet.
    "Rifle practice, Lieutenant."
    Willi nodded as though in approval and remained for a while watching the 98th pass by, though not really seeing them. The guard remained
saluting as Willi walked through the gate, which now closed behind him.
    Sharp commands from the end of the courtyard assaulted his ear. A
troop of recruits was practicing weapon handling under the direction of a
corporal. The courtyard lay in the glare of the sun, bare except for a few
trees scattered here and there. Willi walked along the wall. He looked up
to his room when his orderly suddenly appeared at the window, looked
down, stood stock still for a moment, and then disappeared. Willi hurried
up the steps and began to remove his collar and his military cape as he
stepped into the parlor, where the orderly was just now lighting the fire.
    "At your service, Lieutenant! Coffee will be ready soon!"
    "Good," said Willi, and stepped into the room, closing the door behind him as he took off his coat and threw himself on his bed with his
trousers and shoes still on.
    I can't possibly go to Uncle Robert before nine o'clock, he mused.
In any case, I'll ask him at once for twelve thousand-Bogner might as
well get his thousand too, if he hasn't already shot himself in the meantime. Anyway, who knows? Perhaps he won at the races after all and is
even in a position to rescue me! Ha! Eleven thousand, twelve thousandthat's not so easily won at the races!
    His eyes closed. Nine of spades-ace of diamonds-king of
hearts-eight of spades-ace of spades jack of clubs-four of diamonds-the cards danced before him. The orderly brought the coffee,
moved the table closer to the bed, and poured; Willi propped himself up
on his arm and drank.

    "Shall I pull off your boots, sir?"
    Willi shook his head. "It's no longer worth the trouble."
    "Shall I wake you up later, sir?"-and, as Willi looked at him
blankly-"At your service, Lieutenant! You were to report to the academy at seven."
    Willi shook his head again. "I'm ill; I must go to the doctor. Report
me to the captain ... ill, you understand? I'll send a slip in later. I