As they turned into the Krumerweg they almost ran into Carmichael.

What was the American consul doing in this part of the town, so near midnight?
Carmichael recognized them both.

He lifted his hat, but the vintner cavalierly refused to respond.
"Herr Carmichael!" said Gretchen.

"And what are you doing here this time of the night ?" "I have been on a fool's errand," urbanely.
"And who sent you ?" "The god of fools himself, I guess.

I am looking for a kind of ghost, a specter in black that leaves the palace early in the evening and returns late, whose destination has invariably been forty Krumerweg." The vintner started.
"My house ?" cried Gretchen.
"Yours?
Perhaps you can dispel this phantom ?" said Carmichael.
Gretchen was silent.
"Oh! You know something.