At the square of the Great Star he turned to the left, drove along the river, passed the well-known resort called simply The Tents, and stopped not far from the building of the general staff of the army and drew up before a large distinguished house with a fenced front garden and cast-iron gate to the driveway.
He threw the reins to the groom, who sat statuesquely behind him, and said: "Drive home."
Jumping from the cart, he observed the handle of the scraper sticking in the top of one of his boots. He drew it out, threw it on the seat, and entered the house.
The janitor, an old acquaintance, greeted him with the servile intimacy of the tip-expecting tribe.
On the second floor he stopped and pulled the bell whose glass knob glittered above a neat brass plate.
"Ludovika Kraissl," was engraved upon it.
A maid, clad with prim propriety in a white apron and white lace cap, opened the door.
He entered and handed her his hat.
"Is Madame at home?"
"No, sir."