Johannes listened with alarmed curiosity, as though some huge and hideous monster had risen up before him. He felt as if he stood on the creature's back, and could see the black blood flowing through its great arteries, and the murky breath streaming from its hundred nostrils. And the portentous hum of that terrible voice filled him with fears.
'Look how fast the men walk,' Pluizer went on. 'You can see that they are in a hurry and are seeking something, cannot you? But the amusing thing is, that not one of them knows exactly what he is seeking. When they have been seeking for some little time, some one comes to meet them--his name is Hein.'
'Oh, a very good friend of mine. I will introduce you to him some day. Then Hein says to them, "Are you looking for me?" To which most of them reply, "Oh no. I do not want you!" But then Hein says again, "But there is nothing to be found but me." So they have to be satisfied with Hein.'
'To be sure, always. And yet, day after day, a new crowd come on, who begin forthwith to seek they know not what, and they seek and seek till at last they find Hein. This has been going on for a good while already, and so it will continue for some time yet.'
'And shall I never find anything, Pluizer--nothing but--?'
'Ay, you will find Hein some day, sure enough! but that does not matter; seek all the same--for ever be seeking.'
'But the Book, Pluizer, you were to make me find the Book.'
'Well who knows? I have not taken back my word. We must seek it diligently. At any rate we know where to look for it; Wistik taught us that. And there are folks who spend all their lives in the search without even knowing so much as that. Those are the men of science, Johannes. But then Hein comes and it is all over with their search.'
'Oh no, not at all! Hein is a very kind creature; but he is misunderstood.'
Some one was heard on the staircase outside the bedroom door. Tramp, tramp, up the wooden steps--tramp, tramp,--nearer and nearer. Then some one tapped at the door, and it was as though iron rapped against the panel.
A tall man came in. He had deep-set eyes and long lean hands. A cold draught blew into the room.
'Good-day,' said Pluizer, 'so it is you! Sit down. We were just speaking of you. How are you getting on?'
