"Hans Flaten never changes," she said finally.
"Is that who it was?" I asked.
"His name's Flaten."
"Yes, I remember you mentioned the name last summer. Who is he?"
"His father's a merchant."
"But he himself?"
"His father owns the big shop in Almes Street, you know."
"Yes, but what about him; what does he do?"
"I don't know if he does anything special; he just studies. His father's so rich, you know."
I recalled old Flaten's shop in Almes Street, a good, solid countryman's shop; in the mornings the yard was always full of horses, while the owners were busy making purchases in the shop.