"Why torment ourselves longer, when separation is inevitable?"
"We will not torment ourselves! You shall stay with me this evening, so that we can talk before we separate; I will narrate to you all that you wish to know, and after that you will judge me differently."
The commissioner, who from this utterance believed he knew all and was sure that he had escaped the misfortune of binding himself to the mistress of one or more, now came to a decision. He went to the window, and dismissed the gunner, saying that he would come later in his own boat.
When this was done, he sat down on the sofa for the starting of a conversation.
But after the girl was relieved of her uneasiness, she relaxed and became almost speechless, so that finally there was perfect silence. They had nothing to say to each other, and the fear of stirring up storm birds oppressed more and more the feelings, so that tiresomeness faced them.
The commissioner began to thumb the books, which were left on the center table, and caught sight of one on which the assistant's name was written.
"The story of a young woman, I believe I Have you read it?" asked he.
"No, I haven't had time yet. What is there about the book?"
"Well, it is remarkable because it was written by a woman and yet is sincere."
"So! What is its contents then?"