Anatol Karen noticed the young girl at the moment he was crossing the street, and in a fraction of a second he forgot that he had already turned sixty-two, was a retired ministerial councilor, and had an attack of gout last week.
But it was spring, May was in the world...
With the recklessness of youthful years, which he felt in his heart, he immediately followed the girl. She was slender, full of grace, precisely the type he had been crazy about forty years ago... He followed her step by step, for he belonged to the old generation of persistent people who don't like to let opportunities slip through their fingers.
"I am no longer young," he admitted to himself, "but statistically it has been proven that twenty-year-old girls fall in love with experienced, mature men who stand firmly on their feet... They feel they find support and protection in them... hop!"
In his enthusiasm, he walked too boldly, paying no attention to anything, and collided with a young man walking straight toward him with such force that he fell to the ground.
"A thousand pardons!" said the embarrassed young man and helped him get up. Karen wanted to answer angrily when he suddenly noticed that the girl had also stopped among the crowd of people who had gathered around him.
"Nothing happened to me," he said, rubbing his knee, "I'm the one who should apologize!"
"Did you hurt yourself?" asked the girl sympathetically and looked at him kindly.
"Everything's fine," he replied and straightened his leg with difficulty, smiling at her unambiguously.
"But you're limping!" exclaimed the girl. "Does your leg hurt? No, you shouldn't dismiss this, I'll take you home by taxi!"
Before Karen could protest, she called a car, helped him get in along with the young man, who felt so guilty that he decided to accompany the councilor all the way to his apartment.
So this wonderful girl was now sitting next to Karen, charmingly concerned about his health, like an old acquaintance. The unfortunate accident had turned into unexpected happiness!
"And now you must come in for a glass of wine," he said, inviting them both when they reached their destination. "We should properly toast our acquaintance!"
He went ahead, upright, not dragging his leg — oh no — and didn't want to lean on anything either! His step was almost youthful — what does such a small accident matter when you feel such a trustingly chatty pretty girl beside you..."
They spent a charming little hour. Anatol Karen brilliantly improvised a small reception — she surely recognized it immediately. They drank to the accident that led to their mutual acquaintance.
"Now I must go," the girl finally said. "I think you feel completely well now, don't you? Does it still hurt?"
"No, not at all!"
"In any case, don't treat this matter too lightly," she added. "At your age, it can sometimes be dangerous." With that, she headed toward the door.
"At your age..." He approached the window and saw them both. They were standing on the street corner, and the young man was animatedly talking about something to the girl. Then she smiled and took his arm. The older gentleman watched as they both passed the corner together, and rubbed his aching leg.
It hurt a little after all. And besides, it was spring in the world, May was looking through the windows...
Translated from the original by A. H.