THE REMINISCENCES OF CARL SCHURZ
moved. My gaze was riveted on the end of the passage opposite where Brune was to appear with Kinkel.
So I waited. One minute elapsed after another, but all remained still. I waited a full quarter of an hour, but nothing stirred. What did this mean? According to all calculations they ought to have joined me some time ago. My situation began to appear to me very precarious. Was Brune after all faithless? I took one of my pistols out of my belt and held it in my left hand ready to fire, and my dirk in the right. But I resolved to remain at my post until I could say to myself that the last chance of success was gone. Half an hour had passed and still everything was quiet as the grave. Suddenly I heard a faint rustle, and at the other end of the gateway I saw a dark figure appear like a specter as if it had stepped out of the wall. My hands closed more tightly on my weapons. The next moment I recognized in the dim light the form of Brune. There he was at last, but alone. He put his finger upon his lips and approached me. I awaited him ready for the worst.
“I am unfortunate,” he whispered with his mouth at my ear. “I have tried everything, I have failed. The keys were not in the locker. Come to me to-morrow and get your money back.”
I said nothing in reply, but quickly untied the strings from the door handles, right and left, and then stepped out through the postern gate, locked it, and put the key into my pocket. I was hardly on the street when Leddihn and Poritz hastened to join me. With a few words I told them what had happened. “We were afraid you had been trapped,” said Leddihn. “You stayed so long inside that we were on the point of coming after you to fetch you out.”
Soon we reached Krüger's hotel, where Hensel stood
[ 304 ]
