Harlan is talking with a book enthusiast when a guest surprises him:
“On the contrary, I'm fascinated by it. Perhaps you might be interested to know that the Khevenhüller family library is located in the Austrian castle of Ostervizza and…”
“Certainly! I'm interested. Please continue.”
“…But there's a pretty blonde woman out there trying to get your attention.”
“A blonde?” (Harlan sees Hanneke waving through the window and is shocked.)
“Don't make that face, my friend. She's a woman of flesh and blood, not a ghost. In any case, I'd better be going.”
“Yes, of course. Goodbye.”
“My respects, young lady. Alfonso Saugrènes, bibliophile, philosopher and flaneur*. Pleased to meet you.”
* An intellectual idler who wanders around the city.
(Hanneke to Harlan after Saugrènes leaves) “Your friend is nice. So, aren't you going to say anything to me?”
“Your hair! Why do you wear it like that? Let your hair down!”
“It was more comfortable this way for the trip. Whatever you want. But you're acting so strange! Is this better?” (After she takes out her ponytail.)
“Yes… I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me you were arriving today, Hanneke? I would have picked you up at the airport.”
“Well, I wanted to surprise you. And besides, I've been promoted to Detective First Class now. It's better to arrive at the crime scene without warning, don't you think? But I've messed everything up. It's clear you're not exactly happy to see me.”
“It's just that I was expecting you tomorrow. And with that ponytail… You reminded me of someone…”
“…another woman? Of course. We haven't seen each other for a long time. I couldn't expect you to lead a monastic life in the meantime. I'm unlucky with men. A career woman and a police officer to boot. I hoped that at least a strange guy like you could understand me.”
“You got it right about the strange part, my dear! Come here… Let's take this from the top.”
Harlan's hostile greeting is pretty shocking, especially since Hanneke has traveled from Belgium to see him. Harlan met her in Dampyr #25 and #51. He was sleeping with her under false pretenses during a mission in Ghent, and she still doesn't know his true nature or mission. With her hair in a ponytail, Hanneke reminds him of another woman, Lisa, which is why Harlan greeted her so abruptly. We'll discuss the sad story of Lisa another time.
Note also the "Memoirs of Casanova" book in the shop window. Casanova will figure strongly into this story shortly.
Cropera put some interesting rectangular designs in the background of the upper right panels, reminiscent of the work of Gustav Klimt. The final panel features a Dutch Angle.
Hanneke's scarf is consistent with the observation on the first two pages that the weather is cold during this story. Saugrènes has a scarf as well in the first two panels.
