Here, meanwhile, the crowd had, if possible increased. Besides the
Princess Heinrich August, various other princely personages had
appeared with their suites, for whom at all events room had to be made.
The result was that in some places the curious sightseers were so
crowded together that any movement was hardly possible.
It was the same in the last of the set of rooms. Two ladies had placed
themselves upon one of the few sofas of which the Exhibition could
boast. Near them stood a gentleman whose absent and fatigued expression
plainly showed how glad he would be to sit down also. He stood first
on one leg, then on the other, and cast from time to time an irritable
glance at the two ladies, one of whom, who seemed a few years older
than the other, but, notwithstanding her being rather too large, was
the handsomest, leaned languidly back in her corner, while the younger
and slighter one incessantly turned her eye-glasses from side to side,
never moving them from her eyes.
"When you are enough rested, I think we will go," said the gentleman.
"I see no possibility of getting out," replied the stout lady, without
changing her comfortable attitude.
"It really is intensely interesting," said the other, "quite too
interesting. Who is that man, Edward?"
The glasses had turned in another direction.
"What man?"
"There--by the Emperor's portrait, with the fair moustache and bright
colour--a country gentleman, I am sure. I fancy I have seen him
before."
"By Jove, that is Golm!" exclaimed the gentleman, rousing from his
indifference.
"Count Golm! quite true!" said the lady. "This really is quite too
interesting! Bring him here at once, Edward!"
But the Count had already observed the party and came up to them
eagerly, holding out both hands to the other gentleman, who went
forward a few steps to meet him.
"My dear Wallbach, I am delighted to see you!"
"How long have you been here?"
"Since yesterday evening; will you introduce me to the ladies?"
"My wife--my sister Carla----"
"I had the pleasure two winters ago; but----"
"Oh, we have better memories in Berlin than you seem to give us credit
for, Count Golm," cried Carla, "especially for gentlemen who make
themselves so scarce. Why did we not see you last winter?"
"I was in Italy, Fräulein von Wallbach, and in Paris."
"Oh, that dear dear Paris! We have not been there for an eternity; the
last time was the year before the war. They say it has not altered
at all, but I cannot believe it. Then there was such a brilliant
court--and now--c'est désolant! But sit down by us; there is room if we
sit closer together." Carla drew aside her voluminous skirts.
"I am afraid of being in your way," said the Count, but sat down in the
place so readily made for him, while Herr von Wallbach glanced
despairingly at his varnished boots.
"We have been talking immensely about you this last few days," said
Carla. "Dear Elsa! she is so enchanted with Golmberg, it must really be
a perfect paradise. Is not Elsa enchanting? We all spoil her here,
Ottomar says, and he spoils her more than any one."
"Who is Ottomar, if I may ask?"
"Herr von Werben!" said Wallbach, casting a glance of displeasure upon
Carla, "the Lieutenant."
"Oh, his name is Ottomar!" said the Count.
"Our families are so very intimate," said Herr von Wallbach. "My poor
brother, you know, fell at the siege of Paris by Von Werben's side."
"True! true! I remember," said the Count, who knew nothing about it.
"And naturally that increased our intimacy," said Carla. "Sorrow always
brings people closer together," and she compressed still further the
ample folds of her dress.
"True! true!" said the Count. "Sorrow--and happiness too."
"Ah, you are a philosopher! I love philosophy! Schopenhauer gave me the
most intense pleasure. Are you not enchanted with Hartmann?"
"Who may that be?" thought the Count; and aloud he said, "Certainly--at
least----"
"Then you do not know him, at least thoroughly; I know him by heart.
There are only three men now to be studied, and studied again and
again--Bismarck, Hartmann, and Wagner. The politics of the present, the
music of the future, opened out to us by the philosophy of the unknown;
in them you see the stamp of this century."
"I am quite anxious to make Herr von Werben's acquaintance," said the
Count, by way of taking part in the conversation.
"Quand on parle du loup--mon Dieu! he really does look like a wolf,"
cried Carla, whose ever busy eye-glasses had perceived Ottomar the
moment he appeared in the room, with the anger and displeasure at
Ferdinanda's supposed flight still apparent in his troubled looks and
gloomy eyes.
"He has been looking for you, Carla," said Frau von Wallbach, opening
her lips for the first time.
"Pray do not call attention so openly to what is by no means settled
yet," whispered Herr von Wallbach in her ear.
"What, not yet?" said Frau von Wallbach in an indifferent tone.
Herr von Wallbach shrugged his shoulders, then turned with a smile
towards Ottomar, who was working his way in and out till he finally
arrived at the party in the window.
"That is right, my dear Werben; we have been expecting you a long
time."
"I must apologise," said Ottomar; "I have lost Elsa--been looking for
her this half hour. Pray do not be angry with me, Frau von Wallbach,
nor you, Fräulein Carla."
"Good-morning," said Carla, without moving her glasses from her eyes.
"Who is that, Louise? Frau von Elmar? on her husband's arm?
impossible!"
Ottomar had not written during the three days he had been away
shooting--not a line--and he must be punished for it. Besides, since
her approaching engagement with the smart Guardsman had become known,
she had not found it so easy to fascinate other young men as before.
The Count was fresh from the country, and could very easily play the
part required of him for a day or two. "Count Golm!"
"Yes." The Count, whom Herr von Werben had just introduced to Ottomar,
turned round.
"Look, Count Golm! That young lady in the lovely blue dress--that is
Frau von Elmar, who had that affair with Count Wolkonski, the attaché
at the Russian Embassy, two winters ago. Don't you know the story? You
must hear it. Sit down again by me!"
"I thought we were just going!" said Herr von Wallbach.
"One moment," said Carla.
Herr von Wallbach shrugged his shoulders. He considered the game Carla
was playing, and which he quite saw through, utterly misplaced.
Ottomar's face was dark enough already, so dark indeed that he
considered a word of excuse necessary. "She is still such a child," he
whispered, with a side-glance at Carla. "You must not be angry with
her."
"I am not angry with her."
"Then something else has vexed you," continued Wallbach, drawing
Ottomar aside. "You really ought to leave Berlin for a time, this idle
time of peace does not suit you. And I have already spoken to the
Minister; he does not include you in his differences with your father.
In fact he wishes that you should accept this post, only he also wishes
for particular reasons not to have any more unmarried attachés there.
You see, my dear Werben, I am open with you, and you will not mind
that. Be so yourself, and show that you are in earnest! Believe me we
shall all be better and happier--you and I and Carla. You cannot be
surprised if at last we are getting a little impatient."
"No; I am impatient enough myself."
"Then we shall be quite d'accord, and if you agree--hush! Princess
Heinrich August!"
The Princess had come into the room, and had got to the opposite corner
without being observed by the group in the window, and now moved on,
the crowd respectfully making way, rapidly examining the pictures and
sometimes talking to Elsa over her shoulder. The group on the sofa got
up hastily and bowed low.
"Now we are all together," said the great lady with kindly
friendliness. "Here, you most unfaithful of brothers, is your sister!
The company in which we find you must be your excuse. How are you, my
dear Carla? You have not shown yourself out riding for three days. I
always feel there is something wanting when you do not once canter past
my carriage on your black horse. But he has been faithless to you too.
Shooting--gentlemen are always shooting! I advise you to beware! You
ought to ride too, my dear Wallbach! it would certainly do you good; my
daughters begin next year. I should ride myself if--ah! Count Golm!
What brings you from your lonely island to our dusty town? Certainly
roses bloom here also. Fräulein von Werben has told me the adventure
she had at Golmberg--quite romantic! I always say truth is stranger
than fiction. Shall you stop here long, my dear Count? You must tell me
the whole story. I take a great interest in your island, where I spent
a delightful week last autumn. How is Prince Prora? Your little castle
of Golmberg is said to stand in a still better position than his
celebrated hunting-place. Perhaps you will all accompany me for a short
time? Stay by me, dear Elsa! Then how long do you stay, my dear Count?"
The Princess moved away. The crowd which had formed a semicircle at a
respectful distance, watching the great lady's interview with the group
in the window, as hearing was not possible, opened out and then spread
over the room in chattering groups.
"What a pretty woman!"
"Who were the people with whom she talked so long and so graciously?"