"I wish my silly heart wouldn't beat like a racing 40 h.p., but I'll have it in good order when we meet again."
"It's a good thing I don't make it beat, eh?"
"Hands off, matey," replied "Hans," but with a very un-boylike blush.
"You must drop that habit, young 'un. You've got to think about other 40 h.p.'s, you know;" and with that I went, little thinking of all that was to happen before we met again.
I hurried to my rooms to put the final touches to my preparations; pack the one or two trifles I needed for the journey; make sure that no inquisitive eyes had discovered my hidden suit case; and have everything ready for instant departure.
This did not take more than a few minutes, and I had just finished and was replacing the suit case in its hiding place, when the telephone rang.
"Hullo?" I asked, wondering who could want to call me up.
"Herr Lassen?" came in a woman's voice I did not know.
"Yes. What is it?"
"I'm to tell you Anna Hilden wants to see you at once."