Even the
champagne, which Ryazanov called for, did not improve the mood.
Rovinskaya was the first to come to the aid of the party. Turning
to the stoutest, fairest German of all, who resembled a loaf, she
asked politely in German:
"Tell me, where were you born? Germany, in all probability?"
"No, gnadige Frau, I am from Riga."
"What compels you to serve here, then? Not poverty, I hope?"
"Of course not, gnadige Frau. But, you understand, my bridegroom,
Hans, works as a kellner in a restaurant-automat, and we are too
poor to be married now. I bring my savings to a bank, and he does
the same. When we have saved the ten thousand roubles we need, we
will open our own beer-hall, and, if God will bless us, then we
shall allow ourselves the luxury of having children. Two children.
A boy and a girl."
"But, listen to me, mein Fraulein!" Rovinskaya was amazed. "You
are young, handsome, know two languages ..."
"Three, madam," proudly put in the German. "I know Esthonian as
well. I finished the municipal school and three classes of high
school."
"Well, then, you see, you see .
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