"Well?" said Van Lieverlee. "You do not appear to be half pleased about it. Or do not you believe it yet? It really is not a joke!"
"Oh, no!" said Johannes. "I know it is not ... but...."
"Your friend may go with you, you know; or does she not care to?"
"I have not asked her yet," said Johannes, "for, you see, we have ... we have finally found him."
"What do you mean? w hat are you talking about? Speak out plainly, boy. You need never keep secrets from me.
"It is no secret, sir," said Johannes, greatly embarrassed.
"Then why are you stuttering so? And why do you say 'sir'? Did I not write you my name? Or do you reject my offer of brotherhood?"
"I will accept it, gladly, but I have still another brother that I think a great deal of. It is he whom we are seeking—my comrade and I. And now we have found him."
"A real, ordinary brother?"
"Oh, no!" said Johannes. And then, after a moment of hesitation, softly, but with emphasis, "It is ... Markus.... Do you know whom I mean?"