possessions are in there too … The rest of his belongings have been repacked into his trunk.”
“Perhaps you could arrange for them to be sent to our hotel,” Rowland began, as he took a calling card from his pocket. “We’re staying at the Vier Jahreszeiten.”
“The Vier Jahreszeiten!” Richter exclaimed. “Well, that will not do! The place is crawling with Brownshirts … ill-bred thugs, not the kind of men with whom a gentleman such as yourself would choose to share accommodations.”
“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Richter, but the hotel is very comfortable.”
“No, it will not do!” Richter was adamant. “You must stay here. There is much room here … I will tell Mrs. Schuler.”
“We couldn’t possibly impose,” Rowland protested.
“No, you must stay … See, Stasi has already fallen in love with Miss Greenway.” Richter pointed to the dog who, aside from the barest movement of its ear, looked as though it might have expired. “If you take her away, he will pine!”
Rowland laughed. “Miss Greenway seems to have that effect, but we have business associates who will look for us at the hotel.”
Richter sighed. “Ah, of course. Forgive me … I am a stupid, lonely man trying to stave off old age by playing with young people.”
“We would much rather stay with you and Stasi, Mr. Richter,” Edna said, taking the dog into her arms. “I don’t care much for the SA either.”
9
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
MULLENS FOR GIFTS
ROBERTSON AND MULLENS LTD
THE LEADING BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS LIBRARIANS
MULLENS FOR GOOD BOOKS
SUGGESTIONS FOR GIFTS
HORSE NONSENSE, by authors of “1066” and “Now All This”: 1/6 each (5d.)
WEEK-END BOOK, a social anthology: 9/ (5d.)
KING EDWARD AND HIS TIMES, by Andre Maurois: 16/6 (9d.)
DISRAELI and BYRON, by A Maurois, cheap edition: 7/ each (5d.)
MY STRUGGLE, the Autobiography of Adolf Hitler: 21/ (l/)
FLAT OUT, by G. E. T. Eyston, motor racing: 9/ (5d.)
FOR EVER ENGLAND, by General Seely: 8/6 (6d.)
The Argus, 1933
“P oor old bloke should face facts and bury that wretched hound,” Clyde murmured, as they strolled down Schellingstrasse.
Edna shoved him, though she laughed. “Stasi is just a little lazy.”
“Lazy!” Clyde guffawed. “I’ve seen fur stoles show more signs of life!”
“Mr. Richter loves him, Clyde. Stasi keeps him company.”
“I suppose. Gotta admit, the hat had me worried for a while, but Richter’s not a bad bloke really.”
Rowland agreed. Richter had been a warm and generous host. He had shown them examples of the uniforms that his factories made for the Reich, pointing out the modifications that would be made if he were to have his way. Opening his best wine, he had pressed upon Rowland the keys to his house on the edge of Lake Starnberg, should they wish to use it.
“Perhaps we should have agreed to stay with him,” Edna sighed. “I don’t think Mrs. Schuler is great company.”
“We need to be at the Vier Jahreszeiten for this chap Blanshard to contact us,” Rowland said, trying to stem Edna’s compassion with practicalities. He suspected that Richter reminded Edna of her own father, who had a similar proclivity for ridiculous headgear.
They had, after taking an extended and lavish luncheon with Richter, decided to explore a little before returning to the hotel. And so they strolled down Schellingstrasse, enjoying the gothic façades and baroque architecture of Munich.
“Richter’s correct about one thing,” Clyde said, casting his eyes about the busy street, bustling with business and smartly dressed shoppers. “The Germans seem to be doing well under the National Socialists. I haven’t seen a beggar since we arrived.”
Rowland realised he was right. Perhaps they were not looking in the right places but the streets seemed devoid of the homeless and destitute who haunted many parts of Sydney. “It does seem positive.”
“Depends who you are, I expect,” Milton said, nodding towards a boarded
“Perhaps you could arrange for them to be sent to our hotel,” Rowland began, as he took a calling card from his pocket. “We’re staying at the Vier Jahreszeiten.”
“The Vier Jahreszeiten!” Richter exclaimed. “Well, that will not do! The place is crawling with Brownshirts … ill-bred thugs, not the kind of men with whom a gentleman such as yourself would choose to share accommodations.”
“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Richter, but the hotel is very comfortable.”
“No, it will not do!” Richter was adamant. “You must stay here. There is much room here … I will tell Mrs. Schuler.”
“We couldn’t possibly impose,” Rowland protested.
“No, you must stay … See, Stasi has already fallen in love with Miss Greenway.” Richter pointed to the dog who, aside from the barest movement of its ear, looked as though it might have expired. “If you take her away, he will pine!”
Rowland laughed. “Miss Greenway seems to have that effect, but we have business associates who will look for us at the hotel.”
Richter sighed. “Ah, of course. Forgive me … I am a stupid, lonely man trying to stave off old age by playing with young people.”
“We would much rather stay with you and Stasi, Mr. Richter,” Edna said, taking the dog into her arms. “I don’t care much for the SA either.”
9
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
MULLENS FOR GIFTS
ROBERTSON AND MULLENS LTD
THE LEADING BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS LIBRARIANS
MULLENS FOR GOOD BOOKS
SUGGESTIONS FOR GIFTS
HORSE NONSENSE, by authors of “1066” and “Now All This”: 1/6 each (5d.)
WEEK-END BOOK, a social anthology: 9/ (5d.)
KING EDWARD AND HIS TIMES, by Andre Maurois: 16/6 (9d.)
DISRAELI and BYRON, by A Maurois, cheap edition: 7/ each (5d.)
MY STRUGGLE, the Autobiography of Adolf Hitler: 21/ (l/)
FLAT OUT, by G. E. T. Eyston, motor racing: 9/ (5d.)
FOR EVER ENGLAND, by General Seely: 8/6 (6d.)
The Argus, 1933
“P oor old bloke should face facts and bury that wretched hound,” Clyde murmured, as they strolled down Schellingstrasse.
Edna shoved him, though she laughed. “Stasi is just a little lazy.”
“Lazy!” Clyde guffawed. “I’ve seen fur stoles show more signs of life!”
“Mr. Richter loves him, Clyde. Stasi keeps him company.”
“I suppose. Gotta admit, the hat had me worried for a while, but Richter’s not a bad bloke really.”
Rowland agreed. Richter had been a warm and generous host. He had shown them examples of the uniforms that his factories made for the Reich, pointing out the modifications that would be made if he were to have his way. Opening his best wine, he had pressed upon Rowland the keys to his house on the edge of Lake Starnberg, should they wish to use it.
“Perhaps we should have agreed to stay with him,” Edna sighed. “I don’t think Mrs. Schuler is great company.”
“We need to be at the Vier Jahreszeiten for this chap Blanshard to contact us,” Rowland said, trying to stem Edna’s compassion with practicalities. He suspected that Richter reminded Edna of her own father, who had a similar proclivity for ridiculous headgear.
They had, after taking an extended and lavish luncheon with Richter, decided to explore a little before returning to the hotel. And so they strolled down Schellingstrasse, enjoying the gothic façades and baroque architecture of Munich.
“Richter’s correct about one thing,” Clyde said, casting his eyes about the busy street, bustling with business and smartly dressed shoppers. “The Germans seem to be doing well under the National Socialists. I haven’t seen a beggar since we arrived.”
Rowland realised he was right. Perhaps they were not looking in the right places but the streets seemed devoid of the homeless and destitute who haunted many parts of Sydney. “It does seem positive.”
“Depends who you are, I expect,” Milton said, nodding towards a boarded
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