Although Moritz tries to prevent it, the Christmas concert is
a great success for Isaac.
Klaus leaves for the Christmas holidays with his presumed
fiancée, Arlaune, and Julius is very sad.
One night Dr. Jarn threatens again Renate and tries to rape her,
but Julius, to protect her mother, kills him with a paper knife.
Julius and Renate bury Dr. Jarn's corpse in the garden and burn
all his possessions. From this moment on, Julius' fate has been
settled. Haunted with the homicide, her psyche begins to shatter.
She begins to suspect Jacob, Annelotte's servant, of knowing
something about her crime. Moreover, she sees him in company of
professor Virkrich. During a party given by the Alensmeiers,
Renate sees professor Virkrich and she recalls the unfortunate
love that united them through the window of Orpheus some 16 years
before. During the party, Moritz meets Friederike (14), Isaac's
sister, and insults her. Isaac reacts. As conclusion, the
Kippenbergs exclude the Alensmeiers from fluvial transport
through the city. This is only another shock to Alensmeiers'
collapsing finances.
When the lessons start again with the New Year (1904), Klaus
doesn't come back school at once and Julius, terribly worried,
understands she's in love with him. But it's Davidt who tries to
smooth her and kisses her. In the meanwhile, Moritz has a crush
for Friederike and he goes everyday to buy all of the vegetables
she sells at the market.
For Carnival, the Saint Sebastian institute organizes a
theatrical staging of the Song of the Nibelungen and a parade.
Julius is chosen to play the role of Kriemhild. In an outburst of
rage, she cuts all her hair in front of her classmates. Klaus
comes back to school and Julius finds in his room some copies of
the Iskra (a magazine published by Lenin during 1900–1903) and a
photo, dated 1900, showing Arlaune and a boy called Dimitrij
Mihailovic. In dire straits, Klaus reveals Julius the truth: he's
Russian, his true name is Alekseij Mihailovic and Arlaune was the
fiancée of his brother Dimitri, killed some time after the
photo was taken.
Characters appearing in chapter 2:
♣ Text by Cecilia. Layout by Francesca. Please respect our work, do not steal. If you can't help using part of these texts, please ask for permission first and give credits. Thanks!