'Oh no, not at all! Hein is a very kind creature; but he is misunderstood.'
Some one was heard on the staircase outside the bedroom door. Tramp, tramp, up the wooden steps—tramp, tramp,—nearer and nearer. Then some one tapped at the door, and it was as though iron rapped against the panel.
A tall man came in. He had deep-set eyes and long lean hands. A cold draught blew into the room.
'Good-day,' said Pluizer, 'so it is you! Sit down. We were just speaking of you. How are you getting on?'
'Busy, busy!' said the tall man, and he wiped the cold dews from his bald, bony forehead.
Without moving Johannes looked timidly into the deep-set eyes which were fixed on his. They were grave and gloomy, but not cruel, not angry. After a few minutes he breathed more freely and his heart beat less wildly.
'This is Johannes,' said Pluizer. 'He has heard of a certain book in which it is written why everything is as it is, and we are now going to seek it together, are we not?' And Pluizer laughed significantly.
'Ay, indeed? That is well!' said Death kindly, and he nodded to Johannes.
'He is afraid he will not find it, but I tell him first to seek it diligently.'
'To be sure,' said Death. 'Seek diligently, that is the best way.'