Milde got Tidemand over in a corner.
"It is like this," he said, "I wonder if you have got a couple of crowns?"
Yes; Tidemand was not entirely stripped. How much? A ten-spot?
"Thanks, old man, I'll give it back to you shortly," said Milde in all seriousness. "Very soon, now. You are a brick! It is not more than a couple of days since I said that you hucksters were great fellows. That is exactly what I said. Here is my hand!"
Mrs. Hanka got up at last; she wanted to leave. It was beginning to grow light outside.
Her husband kept close by her.
"Yes, Hanka, that is right—let us be going," he said. He was on the point of offering her his arm.
"Thank you, my friend, but I have an escort," she said with an indifferent glance.
It took him a moment to recover himself.
"Oh, I see," he said with a forced smile. "It is all right; I only thought—"